Big Bow Headband

If you love making a statement with your accessories, then this is the tutorial for you. When making this headband I first, followed this tutorial and covered a plastic headband with gray grosgrain ribbon. After your plastic headband is covered, then its time to make your bow. Start by cutting out 8.5 by 4.5 (inches) piece of cotton fabric out. Then cut out a second piece of sheer fabric, making it slightly bigger then the cotton piece of fabric (this will make sewing easier). Lay the sheer fabric on top of the cotton fabric. Fold the short ends into the middle. Starting at the corners sew along the frayed sides, finishing close to the middle (In case this is confusing, just sew where the dotted lines are on the picture. By leaving a gap you will be able to turn it inside out). After you sew, then you will trim the sheer fabric to be the same as the cotton fabric.

A close up of the middle.

Turn inside out. Now the sheer fabric is on top.

Fold your fabric accordion style so it looks like a bow. Then quickly hand sew the middle together so everything stays put.


Now, cut out 2 by 5 (inches) pieces from both fabrics. Fold the fabrics in half (hot dog style) with the sheer fabric on top. Sew a line down the frayed end, making a tube.

A close up of the middle piece.

Take your little strip, putting the seam in the middle, and hand sew it to the bow in a way that hides the seam (It will be too long and you will need to be cut to fit properly). Now that the bow is complete, attach it to the head band. You can attach it by either sewing it or hot gun gluing it down (I sewed). When attaching my bow, I like it to lean down more on one side, and not be centered.

Little Girl's Teired Skirt

Two blogs that I look at frequently are Made and Katie Did. Both of them sew without patterns, and have convinced me to give it a try.So, here is a simple two tiered skirt (made without a pattern). It's not rocket science, but it is a confidence builder to be able to work without a pattern.

I like to add extra detail to make it more unique and exciting. Instead of putting a regular hem on the bottom of this skirt I finished it off with bias tape.

Dump Cake

I am going to a baby shower tonight, and I was asked to bring a dessert. I found this recipe on allrecipes.com.
Also, I have a tutorial coming soon that I am super excited about. Hopefully, I'll be able to post it tomorrow.

Rainbow Cake

My freind was talking about throwing her daughter a rainbow birthday party. Maybe this cake from the blog Whisk kid will inspire her. I think this cake is nothing short of amazing, and the recipe sounds pretty delicious too. I can't imagine spending that much time in the kitchen before a birthday party. Unless I was throwing a party which included looking at cake, cutting cake, taking pictures of cake, and eating cake (oh, this is making me hungry).

Fabric Book Shelves

I love this room that was featured on Ohdeedoh. I especially like the use of the hanging book shelves. If you would like to make these fabric book shelves, the tutorial is from the blog Penny Carnival. I think these fabric shelves would be perfect for bunk beds, where a night stand wouldn't be an option.

72 Hour Kit

Do you have a 72 hour kit? Well, it has been on my mind lately. Thankfully, The blog Ohdeedoh posted some good information on this subject, so check it out and join me on being more prepared.

Duvet Cover DIY

Make your own duvet cover with easy step by step instructions from Design Sponge.

Portable Doll House

For Christmas I made the girls these portable doll houses from the blog UK Lass in the US. My sewing experience is limited, so at times it was a little tricky, but with some patience I think it turned out well.
It was a little difficult getting the girls to pose with the doll houses' but after some cropping, I think I got a good picture of Isabella.

Here is a inside look at where our peg people live when we are on the road.

Another close up of the house all bundle up. I wish my window wasn't as big as the door, but in real life it doesn't seem to bother me.

Viking Softies

If I had a boy...
then I would definitely want one of these handmade vikings from the owner of the blog Herzensart. I love how all her softies have so much personalty. She also has a shop full of goodies, which is worth checking out.

Custom Stretch Pants

I gave my older daughter Quincy the option of being today's model, but she turned me down in order to wear her own outfit (her new nickname is harajuku girl...I think it is fitting).

So, stepping up to the plate as today's model is little sis: Isabella. Her outfit may look ordinary, but the detail is in the back...
Oh, there is the cute detail. I love how it connects the shirt to the pants.
A closer look.
I got this idea from one of the sponsors of the blog Bloesem Kids. I can't remember which sponsor it was, but the cute pants stuck in my head, and I knew it was the perfect project to try freezer paper stenciling on. If you would like directions to freezer paper stenciling click here. I can tell you that it is easy, fun, and I will be doing it many times more.

Kid's Lunch Box Inspiration

These lunch boxes over at the blog Berlin's Whimsy make me happy. They are healthy and fun. You should check out her Flickr account to see more.

Besides having great lunch box ideas, Berlin's Whimsy is full of great information. You for sure should check it out.

French Coloring Pages

Just found a cute french blog called e-coloriage. I don't speak french, but I think that the blog features different artist by having them make a printable color page. So, if you have a budding artist then go print some of these cute coloring in pages (there is over 40).

***Just a quick hint...every color page has a number followed by a line. For example color page number thirty looks like this...30 J’arrose mon jardin que s’il en a besoin (this will be in the right hand column). If you would like to put the picture in printable form then underneath the picture you will see Télécharge le dessin à colorier, click on that then print. Also, the the pictures seem to be divided into categories, so if you want to look at different coloring pages then start clicking in the right hand column (some categories I clicked on were nature, pesticides, and plantes).

***Just another quick hint...ignore everything in my last note. Just click on google translate-it is amazing. Why was I not doing this before?

Curried Tomatoes and Eggplant

This is my new favorite recipe. It is from my friend's private family blog, and she was sweet enough to let me share it on Q-Bella. The three reasons why I love this recipe are that it was easy, delicious, and I couldn't tell that I was eating eggplant . I made it last week, this week, and I will probably make it next week. (I can't believe my friend made up this recipe-different girl then me.) So, from my friend's blog....

Peel, cube, and salt an eggplant. The normal kind.
Squeeze out the moisture and saute in 2 Tb oil.
When it begins to brown add 1/2 of a chopped up onion
When those things are soft add a chopped up clove of garlic and a teaspoon of freshly grated ginger.
After a few minutes, add a teaspoon of tasty curry powder
Then add a quart of whole canned tomatoes- crushing each in your hands as you go (so satisfying to crush- you'll see.)
Then simmer until it's all saucy and tasty. And eat on top of rice with a little spoon of whole-fat yogurt.

(me again)

I hope you will make this and enjoy it as much as I did. Also, I totally think my friend should have a food blog---she is that good.

Sweet Initial Embroidery

Okay, I realize that we just celebrated Valentine's Day and I also realize that we should only make lovey things during that holiday, but I saw these...Aren't they so cute? So, if you want to keep the love going all year then head over to the Doe-c-Doe blog and get the instructions.
I think this card is equally lovely.

Kid's Activity Roundup

In order to help me get out of my boring parenting slump, I thought I would put together a kid's activity roundup. The first thing I am going to do, as the fun mom, is put together my own custom made scavenger hunt cards. I'm in love with the scavenger cards on the blog Saltwater Kids, so I am basically going to copy her. I was thinking that these would also be fun for road trips or long plane rides.
The next thing I'm going to do with my girls is make a shadow tracing painting. It will be inspired by these lovely shadow paintings from the blog Smaller.

Last, but not least on my list of fun activities to do with kids is this foot volleyball game. This idea comes from the Disney's blog Family Fun. If you ever feel like your in a rut with your kids, check out that blog because they always have a ton of ideas.

DIY Egg Cosies

Celebrate Easter (like must holidays it will be here before we know it) by making these adorable egg cosies. Just go to Smaller to get the how to.

Japanese Masking Tape Roundup

One of my friends just received a bunch of cute Japanese masking tape for her birthday. So, in honor of her awesome birthday present, I thought I would give her some inspiration.
She could decorate lids by following the directions over at Hearthandmade Blog.

If she was throwing a party (which I hope she does, because she always makes delicious food) she could go to project wedding and learn how to make this fun garland.

...or she could go to Mermag and get the how to on these sweet little invites.

Just like the blog Happy Tape she could decorate simple bags.

I love these magnetic clothes pins. I don't know why I would need a bunch of magnetic clothes pins, but I love them! So, hopefully my friend needs cute clothes pins and heads over to the blog Whisker Graphics, and puts that adorable masking tape to use.

..and if my friend needs more inspiration then she can go to IDIY, and see there four part roundup on Japanese masking tape projects.

Fabric Wall Decal

Learn how to put fabric decals on your wall. It's easy, clean, and perfect for renters. When your done just peel it off. Just go to the blog Sewing for Scarlett to learn more.

Easter DIY Bunnies

Learn how to make these sweet bunnies on an amazing German blog, Revoluzzza. These would be perfect in an Easter basket.

A day at the Park in Santa Monica

I found these pics on a gossip web page...just me and Jennifer Garner hanging out at the park with our kids. It was pretty crazy. We had a ton of paparazzi surrounding us, well they were mostly surrounding her. Jennifer asked if I could stand next to her in order to make her look better. I said, "Jen, it would be my pleasure." (I think it was effective.)