Geting Ready for a Craft Off!

Judges Wanted!

 {There will be a prize...unsure of what it will be as of yet.}

I have some tutorials here and I would love to see some photos of what YOU have made so to encourage everyone to try one or two out, I am having a craft off! Who's excited?! 

I'm thinking it will begin in June {so I have time to organize the rules and get some judges} and last all month long. If you'd like to get started you can enter as many different projects as you'd like. The only thing is...it must be a tutorial 100% mine {some projects posted are inspired by other bloggers who I gave credit to...those won't count. 

Here's how it will go:

You can make as many different projects as you'd like.

You must blog your project with credit to my tutorial you made it from.

Come back to the contest page and link it up!

You must follow Tutus and Tea Parties & each judge's blog to be eligible.

I think those will be the general rules.

If you would like to be a judge, please fill out this quick form. 

 <a border="0" href="http://tutusandteaparties.blogspot.com/2012/05/geting-ready-for-craft-off.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj538/tutusteaparties/CraftOff.jpg" width="125" height="125" alt="Button" /></a> 

So, who's with me?!

{Tutorial} Tshirt to Barefoot Sandals

Did you guys see me last month over at U-Create? You didn't? 

Well, you're in luck because I am going to repeat myself here! 

If you did and made these already I would love, love, love for you to share a photo with me on Facebook or by email.

Bug is turning into such a little girly girl! She loves anything girly {tutus, ballet shoes, frilly dresses}. When I made these for her she wore them all day long and even asked to sleep in them. What's even better is it cost me nothing to make these! I had everything right here in the house to whip these up and you probably do too.

Materials:

-an old tshirt

-scissors

-matching thread and needle

-matching felt

-hot glue gun and glue

-a baby/toddler/child

What to do {I don't sew...like ever...so #1) if I can do this, so can you & 2.) if I use the wrong sewing/clothing term, forgive me}:

1. Cut the bottom hem off your tee. Cut a couple strips of your tee about an inch wide. Cut one side so it is no longer a loop. Pull it so the edges pull together kind of. {It's like making t-shirt yarn - instructions here} You will be using the rest of the tee {or a good part of it} for the flower.

2. Cut a piece of your felt in an oval {mine was about 2" long and 1" wide} Bug is 2 1/2 so if you are making these for a baby you are going to want it a little smaller.

3.  Using these instructions you are going to cut 18 petals for your flower. {my flower was 3" around for Bug. Again, if you are making for a baby, maybe you want to make your flower a little smaller}

4. Take your strips of tshirt and measure from one side of your child's foot, under their foot to the other side. Mark and cut. Cut 6 strips this size. {the tshirt will stretch so you don't need to leave extra room for sewing}

5. Gather all your materials.

5.  Sew three of the strips along the long side of the felt oval.

6. Sew the other sides of the strips to the other side of the felt oval {making it like a ring}.

 I should have sewn them to be placed evenly on each side...oops.

7. Following the flower instructions, make your flower onto the felt oval.

Would ya look at that, you can even wear it as a little bracelet!

8. Take 2 of the strands at the bottom and sew to pinch them together {these will be the straps that go on the bottom of the foot}.

9.  Smile big for saving yourself about $20 and recycling a tshirt in the process!

10. Grab your cute little girl and decorate her feet! 

You can even put them over socks to discourage your little one from taking their socks off in the winter months when they insist their feet won't get cold but you know they will!

Bug loves these! I was shocked because she never wants to wear or model anything I make for her...but she even wanted to go to bed with these on her feet after wearing them all day!

YOU made it:

 Not Always With Thread made some for her little one and herself! Check them out here.

This post has been featured!

T-Shirt to Barefoot Sandals {find me on UCreate today}

Guess where I'm guest posting today...go on, guess!

I'm over at UCreate! My most favorite tutorial blog ever! 

I am so excited to be sharing how I made these adorable barefoot sandals from an old t-shirt I had laying around.  

Come on over and check it out!

{Tutorial} Drinking Straw Tray

Woo hoo! My drinking straw tray got me through to round 3 of 5 in Creative Bloggers Got Talent at Every Creative Endevor. Now that the winners are announced, I get to show you how I made it!

Materials:

-wood tray {I got mine from Michaels Craft Store for a few bucks with my 40% off coupon}

-paint {less than $1 or free if you have a million colors on hand like I do}

-a pack of 100 drinking straws {the straight kind, not the bendy ones}

-tacky glue

-plexi glass {mine was a couple bucks and the nice people at Home Depot will cut it to your measurements for free, just ask}

-2 dowels about the thickness of the straws and the length of your tray. {my dad cut mine, but I'm sure Home Depot can cut yours if needed}

What to do {hopefully I explain it well}:

1. Measure the inside of your tray. {I then cut out a rectangle that size of paper}

2. Divide it so that there are 4 even squares across and 3 even squares down.

3. Paint the tray & dowel {I did 2 coats} and let dry. You can spray it with sealant if desired.

4. Now it's time to cut the straws. I bought bendy ones because I liked the colors of these so if you get bendy straws you will need over 100. {I used maybe 10 straws from the second package}See those lines in the squares? Those are the way my straws will be facing. Using your measurements, cut each straw to fit in the squares. 

5. Glue each dowel along the long side of your tray. {This will keep the plexiglass from smooshing the straws if something heavy is placed on the tray}

I used my drawing to see how many straws fit across {or the other way for the horizontal facing straws} and started gluing them to the tray. Don't worry if they don't touch edge to edge, you can kind of press down and wiggle them so they do. They are pretty cool like that!

6.Glue your plexi glass along the dowels. You might want to use a clear caulking around the glass so no leaks or spills can get through. I didn't do this {even though I should because I am clumsy} but I plan on it!

7. Put some fancy coffee mugs & sugar on it and serve!

You might find me over at some of these link parties.

Valentine's Day Can-dle Holder

This candle holder is made from a can and it's a great project to work on together to give to someone special on Valentine's Day!

What you need:

• an empty, washed out can with the label peeled and top off {make sure there are no sharp edges!!}
• paints in your color choice {we used kids poster paint}& brushes
• a hammer and a nail
• a sharpie
• heart stencil {I used the small heart from here}

What to do:

Place the can upside down {the closed bottom side up} so your child can hold it without touching the inside in case of sharp edges. 

I can't stress enough to make sure there are no sharp edges. Be sure to supervise your child as they are painting so they do not touch the opening or inside of the can juuuust in case!

For the kids to do: Paint the whole outside of the can {you don't have to paint the bottom}.

For the parent to do: Cut out your small heart stencil out of sturdy paper or thin cardboard {like from a cereal box}. I used a file folder. Place it in the center and mark dots along the heart with a sharpie.

Now for the fun part! Take your hammer and nail and bang the nail into the can on each sharpie mark. {if you don't have a steady hand the nail might scratch off some of the paint. We just repainted around the heart where it scratched off. It's up to you if you want to let your child help or handle the hammer. It does take some force though.

{or you can save the painting for last}

Place a tea light candle inside {or one of those flameless ones} and enjoy the heart shaped glow!

 {I have one of those long match holders so I didn't burn myself lighting it}

&lt;3

Have a happy Valentine's Day!

You may find me at some of these lovely link parties.

Valentine's Day Cupcake Magnets

Happy Fridday! I don't have a giveaway for you all today BUT I do have a cute Valentine's Day craft to do with the kiddos this weekend. {if you are interested in sponsoring a giveaway please shoot me an email here}

We haven't really been doing a lot of Valentine's Day crafts but with the day soon approaching I guess we should start, huh?

What you need:

• tacky glue
• large pom poms
• tiny pom poms/pipe cleaners
• an old magnet {like the kind the pizza place gives you} or you can buy a pack of magnets
• mini cupcake liners

What to do:

• Glue the large pom pom in the cupcake liner.
• Glue either a small pom pom or cut & swirled piece of pipe cleaner on top {for a cherry or frosting} You can also use colored glue as the swirl of frosting if you'd like}
• Cut a magnet piece to fit on the bottom of your cupcake liner and glue in place after other pieces have dried.

There you have it! Some cute little cupcake magnets. :)

Here are some photos of Bug making them {and yes, we are pantless...again!}:

 I would suggest cutting the magnet into a circle that fits the whole bottom of the liner.

Hang up some artwork or a love letter using your new cupcake magnet! <3

You might find me at some of these link parties here.

Melted Crayon Brooch

I am taking part in the Show Us Your Plum Contest over at Cherrished Bliss. I was so happy to be chosen by Ashley to receive an item from Pick Your Plum. I had no idea what I would be receiving. All I knew was it was a Pick Your Plum item which I was receiving to craft and blog about.{I just love a good surprise, don't you?} 

My package soon arrived and I was so excited to find this set of lovelies to transform!

Today I will show you the first brooch I worked on:

Melted Crayon Brooch

What you'll need:

brooch {I reveived mine from Pick Your Plum}

crayons in your fave colors

a sharpener, knife, or grater

an oven set at 200 degrees F

Make some crayon shavings using a crayon sharpener, knife or grater. Pile your shavings into the center of the brooch. Make sure it's nice and full since the crayons will melt down.

Place your brooch on a cookie sheet {the one I use is specifically for crafts - you might want to line yours in case the crayon spills} and bake at 200 degrees F. I left my oven door slightly open to see when the crayon was all melted {it took all of about 3 minutes}

Once your crayon shavings have melted, remove the brooch with a pot holder {I don't know how hot it gets, but I wasn't going to touch it} and let it cool.

Doesn't it look cool? I think so!

{sorry for the bad photo}

Have you been crafty with a Pick Your Plum item? You join the contest too!

Want to see what I did with the other pins?

Click to see the Interchangeable Clip/Pin

Stay tuned for the last one {the blank flower brooch}

You may find me linking up to some of these lovely parties.