Upgrade Your Dollar Store Valentines!

Hello!  Today I want to share a quick and FUN project with you! 
UPGRADED dollar store Valentines!

My daughter and I have been playing around with valentines this year to send to grandmas and cousins and friends.  We took some valentines we purchased at the dollar store this year (plus some from past years!) and... well...  did this with them!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

I definitely consider it an improvement!!
Here are a few more!

And, my personal favorite!

Ha ha ha!!  Enjoy!  And if you make your own, share them with the hashtag #upgradedvalentine !

Love Week -- Tiered Toddler Dress

Welcome to Day Four of a week's worth of Valentine projects!

Today's project: A sweet Valentine dress for your little girl!

Mine is made from four dollar store T-shirts ranging from light pink to dark pink, and a white size 2T T-shirt (for the bodice) that I picked up from Walmart for a couple bucks. Measurements fit my almost-two-year-old, but you could certainly adjust the measurements to fit whomever you have in mind.

STEP ONE: Cut your T-shirts!
Starting at the bottom (darkest) and working your way up (to lightest):
Bottom tier (darkest): Cut two 19" x 4 3/4" strips -- this is the measurement BEFORE I created a 3/4" hem. If you are utilizing an existing hem, adjust accordingly.
Third tier: Cut two 17" x 4" strips
Second tier: Cut two 15" x 3 3/4" strips
First tier: Cut two 13" x 3 1/2" strips

STEP TWO: If needed, hem your bottom tier. I folded mine up 3/4" and double hemmed it to match the hem of the bodice's sleeves.

STEP THREE: Starting with your bottom tier, lightly gather the top edge using a 1/4" seam allowance. Do not backstitch so you can adjust your gathers as needed! On my machine, I was able to do this easily by increasing both my stitch length to 5 and my tension to 10. It came out just about exactly right for the amount of gathering I needed, making this project super easy!
Note: Don't forget to switch your machine's settings back to normal! :o)

STEP FOUR: Attach your gathered tier to the bottom of the next tier up, right sides together, using a 3/8" seam allowance. Don't forget to backstitch this time. You will then gather the top of the next tier and attach it to the next tier up, and so on.

STEP FIVE: Once you have your front and back together, sew them together at one of the side seams.

STEP SIX: Cut your bodice T-shirt where you want the skirt to begin. I cut mine 1" below the armpit seam.

STEP SEVEN: Carefully pick open one side seam, as shown.

STEP EIGHT: Gather the top of your skirt and carefully attach it to your T-shirt bodice. This is a good time to pin! Once it is attached, sew up the remaining side seam.

Done!
I just love the gradated colors...

...and JellyBean loves it too!

Love Week -- LOVE Wall Hanging!

Day three of a week's worth of Valentine projects....

Today Jess is sharing this super cute wallhanging over at her blog, Craftiness is not Optional.
(I adore that tiny pompom trim -- it's the perfect touch!!)

Head over and get the details!

Love Week -- Covered Notebooks!

Day Two of a week's worth of Valentine projects...

Welcome, Craftiness is not Optional readers!

Today I want to share how to make these SWEET little covered notebooks. Aren't they perfect for a little Valentine's Day gift for a sister, mom, grandma, or friend? (HA! Maybe I'm the only one who considers Valentine's Day a bit of a "sisters' holiday!")

What you need:
mini composition book (3/$1 at Dollar Tree!)
fabric scraps
velcro (a tiny amount! bonus points if it matches!)
scrap of posterboard to make your pattern

STEP ONE: Create your pattern! Open your notebook flat and trace around the perimeter, as shown.

Mark your pattern as follows:
Measure and mark the center point of each side -- all four!
On side A: 5 1/8" from the edge, center a rectangle that is 1/4" high by 3/8" wide, and cut it out.
On side B: add a mark 1/4" from the top and bottom of your center point.
On the top and bottom: add another mark 1/2" from either side of your center points, then connect the new marks using a straightedge.
Your pattern is ready!

STEP TWO: Cut out your notebook cover pieces.
Cover: Cut two rectangles 3 1/4" wide x 5" tall
Spine: Cut one strip 1 1/2" wide by 5" tall
Pockets (what the cover tucks into): Cut two rectangles 3" wide x 5" tall
Closure: Cut two strips 2 1/2" wide x 1 1/4" tall
Velcro: 1/2" x 5/8"

STEP THREE: Fold one long edge of each of your pocket pieces down 1/4" and press. Sew, using about a 1/8" seam allowance.

STEP FOUR: Lay your closure straps right sides together. Using a pencil, draw a curve at one end, leaving a 1/4" seam allowance. Sew, starting on one of the long edges and using a 1/4" seam allowance. Follow your drawn line, and sew all the way back around along the opposite long edge. Clip off those rounded corners near your stitching line, and turn your closure tab right side out.

STEP FIVE: Sew your three cover pieces together -- with the spine piece in the middle, as shown -- using a 1/4" seam allowance. Press the seams out from the middle. Also press your closure tab.

You will then topstitch around your tab closure and next to your seam lines on your cover.
All your pieces are just about ready!

STEP SIX: Attach the "scratchy " side of your velcro to the end of the tab, as shown, and trim the length of your tab to 1 7/8"

STEP SEVEN: Lay your cover right side up, with the "front" (if your fabric is directional) on the right. Place your pattern on top, lining up your seam lines at the top and bottom with the long lines you drew on your pattern, as shown. Center the pattern vertically. Draw an X -- corner to corner -- in the hole. This marks where to attach the soft side of your velcro.


STEP EIGHT: After attaching the soft side of your velcro, carefully line up your pattern on top of your cover again. This time you will center your tab, velcro side up, between the two marks. Pin. Sew it on with a 1/8" seam allowance to keep it in place.

STEP NINE: Layer your pockets on top of your cover, right sides together, with the hemmed edges toward the middle.

Once again, line up your pattern on top, centering it and using your drawn lines as a guideline. Using a sharp pencil, draw all the way around, directly on your fabric.

STEP TEN: Sew directly on your pencil line all the way around. Don't forget to backstitch! Using pinking shears, trim around the rounded corners. Or, notch with regular scissors. Trim close to the stitching line, but be careful not to snip your stitches.

STEP ELEVEN: Turn your cover right side out and carefully press your seams. At the center points, carefully turn the edges of your cover up just BARELY past your stitches and press.

STEP TWELVE: Gently fold the covers of your notebook back as shown and carefully slide your cover on. You're done!! :o)

Another idea: Make your tab a little bit longer to accommodate a pencil!

These little guys are SO fun and SO inexpensive to make. I've made about 25 (so far!) to give to my sisters, friends, mom, and grandmas!

Love Week -- Adorable Valentine Skirt!

Welcome to Day One of a week's worth of Valentine projects -- a collaboration with yours truly and Jess of Craftiness is not Optional!


The first project is this adorable skirt made by Jess.

Get the details HERE!

A Sweet, Non-Sweet Valentine Treat

Today I'm over at Dollar Store Crafts sharing these cute little "goodies" to pass around to classmates with Valentine cards. Come check it out!!

More Tiny Valentine Dresses

I know, I know! I doubt very many people care to see my dollies -- so this post is all for MEEE!

I love my tiny Blythes, and have been obsessing over making a tiny Valentine dress for each one. I have to start out with my favorite:

Somehow her dress just feels so "I Love Lucy" to me! And they said redheads should never wear pink.... Shows how much they know! :o)

And what is that little thing on her desk?

A teeny-tiny Valentine!
It measures 1/4" x 3/8".

I adore it! (Big surprise! What, ME? Love TINY things??)


Here are some of the other dresses I've made so far:
That last one is my least favorite. It definitely doesn't suit that particular girl. But I have a red and black lace number I'm working on for her -- and I think it will be perfect!

Each dress uses only the ittiest bittiest little scrap of fabric.
See?? I'm actually USING those tiny little scraps I haven't been able to part with!

Here's my other favorite dress. Pink lace with cowboy boots!

Hmmm.... Is someone jealous about that Valentine?

:oD Now I probably sound nuts! :oD
I can't even describe how much I adore these little dolls! They are just TOO much fun!
Thanks for being a good sport and letting me share!