Saturday, May 18, 2013

Rosette Lampshade DIY


 
As I've mentioned before Lil Cinnamon's bedroom is a work in progress.  I purchased this lamp from Target months ago and always knew I wanted to add rosettes to it to add some color.  I looked high and low in every store for them and couldn't find them so I decided to make them myself.  It was so easy to do that I thought I would share it with you. 
 
I started off purchasing a yard of broadcloth (which was way too much, you could easily use 1/2 yard).  I cut these into 2 inch squares.  You'll need quite a few so cut away!
 

Take the 2" square and fold it in half.  To save time and energy I do 2 squares at a time.  If you do anymore they don't fold so nicely and become wonky.
 
 Then fold it in half again the other way so in essence you are making a smaller square.

Take that square and cut off the 3 points and round it out to make it look like a tear drop.

When you unfold your square you'll have what looks like a butterfly or flower.

If you doubled up the squares earlier you'll need to seperate them and work on each piece individually from here on out.  Take some thread and sew a small circle in the middle of the flower as seen below.
 

Then pull the thread so that it pulls the fabric up.  You've now completed one petal of your rosette!
 Then do the same thing again.  Pull the others closer to the first petal so it's easier to tighten when you are done.  Each rosette has 6 petals.  When you are finished with each petal sew them together at the bottom tip to keep them together in the long run. Once they are together it's easy to fluff up so don't fret if they look smushed or such while making them.  This is something good to do at night while you watch TV.  :)
 

When you are done with them all just hot glue them to your lampshade and you are done! 
 


And to show you what the top of her chest really looks like in real life when I'm not pretending that our house is clean for this blog.  You'll notice that all items are closely huddled together in the middle.  That's because if Lil Cinnamon can reach it she's pulling it down.  Ugh!

If you have any questions please feel free to let me know!  If you make this I'd love to see pictures!

Cheers!
Cinnamon Sangria

PS!  Linking up with:
I heart naptime Sundae Scoop  http://www.iheartnaptime.net/sundae-scoop-link-party-80/

Flamingo Toes Think Pink Sunday  http://www.flamingotoes.com/2013/05/think-pink-sunday-no-113/

A Bowl Full of Lemons  One Project at a Time  http://www.abowlfulloflemons.net/2013/05/one-project-at-a-time-51413.html

Today's Creative Blog  Get your Craft On  http://todayscreativeblog.net/get-your-craft-on-103/?utm_source=feedly&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20todayscreativeblog%20(Todays%20Creative%20Blog)

Skip to My Lous Made by you Monday  http://www.skiptomylou.org/2013/05/20/made-by-you-monday-153/?utm_source=feedly

Friday, March 15, 2013

Craft Exchange

 
At the beginning of the year were a ton of your friends posting about craft exchanges?  Mine were.  The idea was that you would post to your wall saying you would make 5 crafty items (anything that you like) and trade with 5 of your friends anything throughout 2013.  I didn't post it to my wall but agreed to exchange with another friend of mine who had posted on her wall. I decided to make her this bracelet.  It was incredibly easy.  A cuff bracelet, fabric or ribbon, a brooch, and hot glue.  I made this for Susie but may end up keeping it for myself or just making another.   The idea came from Flamingo Toes Crazy Easy Anthro Knockoff Bracelet.  To see her tutorial please visit here.  Her site has a TON of great tutorials.  It's easily one of my favorite blogs.  The bracelet and brooch came from Michaels and I had the fabric sitting around waiting to be used for a project just like this!
 
 
The button I had orginally decided to use wouldn't work so I found this brooch instead and I think I  like it even more.




I can't wait to see what I get in return from Susie!

Cheers!
Cinnamon Sangria

Monday, March 4, 2013

Quiet Book Page

A few other moms and myself decided to make Quiet Books for our children who are all very close in age.  I chose to make a mailbox and letters.  We each decided to make 13 of the same page and then swap so that each child will have a complete book.  For various reasons the project was delayed a bit and to be honest I was dreading making my page when it came time to put it together.  But once I got going it was quite fun.  I haven't gotten any other pages yet but as soon as I do I will share the finished project.  Lil Cinnamon is obsessed with books and I don't really let her play with the interactive ones (pop up ones or paper) at this point as she's still a bit little and doesn't understand to not rip them.  But these are made of felt and are sewn on.  They are pretty much destruction proof!  And if for some reason she does manage to rip something off I can easily sew it back together. 
 

 
 
 
 
Letters from Grandmom and Grandpop waiting to be opened.
 
 
 
As I was making these I couldn't help but think that our children will be a generation who sees the mail be a thing of the past.  With email/Skype/Facebook etc taking over letters are few and far between.  Lil Cinnamon's grandparents send her postcards weekly so as she gets older it will be fun to see her await the mail delivery.  Ahh, to receive something other than bills!

Cheers!
Cinnamon Sangria

Monday, January 14, 2013

Easy paper project

Mr. Sangria and I had a lunch date last week and walked into Paper Source.  Lil Cinnamon is 16 months old and I'm embarassed to say that her room is still not completely decorated.  While walking around we decided to get some wrapping paper sheets and frame them.  We have a map of ParisNYC, and the London Underground (subway or Tube as they call it). 
We love to travel so it seemed appropriate.  Good thing is that each piece of paper was ridiciously cheap so if I want to redecorate next week, no biggie. 

In my roamings of the store I came across these paper flowers.  They were inexpensive and seemed easy enough.  A quick project to full my DIY cravings as of late. 



 


Would I prefer to have fresh flowers?  Yes.  Will these do for the meantime?  Yes!  And plus these won't die.  Score!  I put them in my Lenox vase that I adore and I'm happy with the look although I may go buy another kit to really fill up the vase which I think will look better.  Perhaps after Valentines day these may go in Lil Cinnamons room on her dresser.

Cheers!
Cinnamon Sangria

**I was not contacted by Paper Source for this blog post.  All purchases were made by me and all opinions are solely mine.**

Monday, November 12, 2012

OT: Being prepared




This is a completely off topic post but thought I'd share anyway.  Seeing the pictures of Hurricane Sandy on the news has been heart wrenching and has reminded me to make sure my emergency kit is ready and prepared.

I live in Southern California.  Home to many an earthquake.  In my 13 years out here I've been in a few but nothing too major, thankfully!  But I'm terrified of them.  TERRIFIED!  One would ask why I live in an earthquake zone if I'm so scared of them.  I had originally planned on moving out here for a few years to "live it up in the big city" after college but then I met my husband and his work keeps us out here so I guess I'm staying put for a while.  I've made it very clear that we are moving the day he retires but since we have a few years for that I might as well get comfortable.

I never had an earthquake kit until last year when the big earthquake/tsunami hit Japan.  Seeing all that devastation hit me like a ton of bricks.  At the time I was pregnant and I guess I realized it could have been us.  That week I ran out and stocked up on water and essentials, or so I thought. 

I was reading this blog post this morning and it got me thinking. Would I be prepared for an emergency given what I have in my home at this moment?  The answer is no. I have water, I have a flashlight, food, first aid kit, baby food, but somehow I forgot diapers and a change of cloths and shoes. And I'm sure there are a few other things I've forgotten. Which is why I'm signing up for this 8 week course. I think it will be very beneficial. If you want to sign up as well please do so.

Topics included will be:

Emergency Preparedness – “Emergency Survival Station”


  • Week #1 – STORAGE (Shelving, Backpacks, and Bins)
  • Week #2 – BASIC NEEDS (Food & Water)
  • Week #3 – MEDICAL (First Aid Kit & Medicine)
  • Week #4 – EMERGENCY BINDER & CASH (Important documents & a cash stash)
  • Week #5 – SUPPLIES
  • Week #6 – PET & HYGIENE KIT
  • Week #7 – COMFORT (Clothing, Toys, Games)
  • Week #8 – MY SURVIVAL STATION REVEAL & LINK PARTY


A Bowl Full of Lemons
 
 




Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Happy Halloween

Greetings.  Halloween is right around the corner and Lil Cinnamon would like to share her costume that we made.  And by we I mean me.  I used this tutorial and it worked perfectly.  I did use a different poodle and I'm sorry to say I can't remember where I got it but you can google oodles of poodles easily (Dr. Seuss anyone?).
I was perfectly content on buying her costume this year and in fact had a costume that was given as a gift late last year but it was too small.  I went to exchange it but the store would only give me $1.67 credit for the costume.  It was the exact same costume from last year to this year but the tag gave it away that it was from last year.  I decided not to give into the corporate greed and kept the costume and gave it to a friend who has a baby a few days younger that Lil C but is much smaller. 
Mr. Sangria didn't like the costume anyway so I decided I'd whip up this costume.  I had all intentions of us all dressing up and was going to make mine as well but at the end of the day I'm tired and I didn't finish mine in time.  I may get a burst of energy and finish it in the next day or so but that's doubtful.  But in the meantime Lil Cinnamon had an early Halloween party yesterday so we got to get dressed up and it was so much fun. 


On a side note, we have family in NYC and Connecticut.  Hoping everyone is safe and sound.  Please keep us updated.

Cheers!

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Necklace Holder

I love necklaces.  Well I did before Miss Cinnamon decided to grab anything and everything that I wear.  But I have quite a bit of necklaces and never know where to put them so I can clearly see them and where they won't get tangled.  Currently I have them in shoe boxes, in my jewelry box, in the box the necklace came in, in paper bags (not sure why), and also in organza bags around the hangers of some outfits they go with -the problem with that is I forget to wear the necklace with other outfits.

I saw this idea somewhere floating around the internet so I can't take credit for it but I thought it was pretty clever.

1.  Take a wooden coat hanger and some hooks.  I used Hillman 7/8" White Cup Hooks - purchased at Lowe's.

 2.  If you have a hanger without the bottom that's better but if you only have pant hangers like I do, then just take the bottom portion off. 

 3. Drill evenly spaced holes where the cup hooks will be.  Mr. Sangria did this part.  I would have done it but we don't have a clamp to hold the hanger and I was afraid of it slipping and then I'd drill my leg or something.  I told him if he slipped and had to go to the ER he would have to drive himself as I wasn't waking Lil Cinnamon to take him.  Honestly I was a bit afraid.  Sadly not in a loving way but more of a "I know he's going to slip, this is the kind of sh!t that happens to us" kind of way. 

4.  Done!  I think one day I may paint it white so it looks better but for now this will do. 
5.  Please forgive the messy closet.

6.  I'm happy to report there was no loss of blood for this project.