Baby Rose Shirt Redo

I hope you are not getting too tired of my kid's shirt redos, but I REALLY like to make their shirts, especially if I can reuse their baby clothes.  My kid's baby clothes were/are so cute...I just can't help myself.  
So, this refashion comes to you courtesy of my daughter's long sleeved 2T shirt.  I love the details of this shirt and how cute it looked on Sam when she was little.  When she outgrew it, it got put away. I figured I would let Sam use it for her dolls someday. Well, forget the dolls, I used it to make a cute shirt for Sam ...six years later.

Here is what the 2T shirt looked liked before the transformation.  See how wrinkled it is from being tucked away in a chest for years?  I love the rose cut-out and the striped sleeves especially the ruffled edge at the end of the sleeves...

So, basically what I did was cut out the flower cut-out  and centered it to the new shirt. I did this by folding the shirt side ways and ironing a line down the middle.  Then I did the same with the cut-out.  

See the thread running down the middle...that is just to show you how to line up the shirt with the cut-out to get it to look centered. 

Then pin and sew around the cut-out

I sewed around the cut-out twice just because...and then trimmed the edge (sorry, forgot to take pic)

Make several strips by cutting up the sleeves. Fold and iron your strips length wise

and use them to trim out the sleeves like you would with bias tape.  Just start with one strip and when that strip runs out, layer another and continue around the sleeve.

Just sew around the sleeve.  I used the width of the foot as a guide. 

Once I was done sewing, I just trimmed off the extra fabric.

Don't forget to do the same for the neckline. Remember the cute ruffled edge on the sleeves? I cut the ruffle close to the edge and made these pretty roses. I pinned them to the flowers that were printed on the cut-out.

I sewed/tacked them down by hand and added clear beads.

and there you have it...still cute six years later ...

and, um, yeah, don't you think the shirt is cute too...?

Easy Backpack to Shoulder Bag

My daughter loves this backpack, BUT it was way too small for her.  She's had it since she was two years old.  Anywhere she went, Deery- Lou had her back.  

So entertaining the idea of giving it away sent Sam into pleading mode; "Please mom...can't you make it bigger?"  Hmmmm?  That got me thinking.  I could make it "bigger"...  

All I did was seam rip-off the straps, 

sewed the straps into one long shoulder strap, (I used the handle to connect the two straps.)

hot glued shut the openings left from seam ripping-off the straps,

 and reattached the now shoulder strap to the sides of the backpack. 

Deery-Lou no longer has Sam's back...now they walk side-by-side. 

I'm positive Sam will continue to treasure her "new" purse for many more years to come, especially since the straps are adjustable and she can make it as "big" as she needs it to be. 

What Makes a 5 Year Old Happy?

Glow In The Dark Stars!!  My husband and I have been redoing/redecorating our son's room.  Part of the redo was to hang glow in the dark stars from the ceiling.  It is very simple to do.

Here is what you need:

Here is what you do.  Carefully heat the end of the straight pin with the flame of the lighted tea light candle.  Then, poke two holes (at opposite ends) on the stars.  

Because burnt plastic smells awful, make sure you work in a well ventilated area.  Once you finish making all the holes on all the stars, string them up with the fishing wire.  Stringing them up is easy.  Get one star, insert wire into one hole and then out the other.  Continue until you are done with all the stars.  Now the fun part...hang them up!!  I just used the same hooks that were used to hand the airplanes.  You can use hooks, clear tape or even thumb tacks. 

Here is a night view of the glow-y stars. 

Our son L.O.V.E.D. I.T.!  I don't think he got much sleep last night.  I heard him close his door and turn on and off the ceiling light several times.  I can only assume that he was recharging the stars all night long.  I plan on filling in the other side of his room with more hanging stars.