Wordless Wednesday: A Bribe...

Lil' J,

I know you want to wear this tutu dress for the 4th of July. Mommy made this for you, and by the time you come out it'll have pretty stars sewn on it, a big flower bow, and a matching flower bow for your hair.
Here's the catch... You've gotta be born before then to wear it! You've got about a week of leeway.

It's up to you.

Love,

Mommy

Link up and blog hop! I'd love to see your pictures today!

***

Winner of the Bundled Giraffe Rattle: #21 Nichole. Congrats! Email babymakingmachine(at)gmail.com to claim your prize!

Operation Nursery Makeover Part 5 {$215 Canvas Art Giveaway}

So... The crib is up, mattress in the bed (still has the wrapper on it though), we have a dresser, I made the mobile, her name is hanging in adorable modge podge letters made my yours truly, and I have some beautiful wall art hanging above her crib with a cute vinyl saying once again created by *clears throat* this mama right here!!

I got a bed skirt to go under the queen bed that's in the room, and I'm making some throw pillows that match the crib bedding that's COMING TODAY! And curtain valances I made for the bed (tutorial for pillows coming soon... If I ever finish them).

I got some wall shelves for a corner of the room and I hung them up Friday, and I am refinishing a toy box I bought for $20 on Craigslist.

It's safe to say the room is coming together from [wanna be] Man Cave to Nursery, it's really transforming! I blogged about my husband's love/hate relationship with my redecorating on my Parenting blog, so check that out too, comment if you can pretty please!

But there's still some things I'm working on. For one, I'm still trying to figure out what to do with this high ledge in the room. It's so high and there's so much white between what's below on the wall and up on the ledge (I've put a few teddy bears up there so far) that I feel like I need more up there.
I'm thinking of adding maybe some baskets, and big blocks or something... But I think I need something more drastic... I may even*gasp* paint the wall above the ledge/shelf as an accent wall. Maybe I'll paint it green or yellow. We're renting so I'm hesitant to paint but I really am not sure what else to do, but she said we can paint if we want (though me way have to paint it back). I also worry about getting up there... I'll need a ladder or something and this could be dangerous in my condition.

Now on to something else I added to the nursery recently... I'm cheating a little on this week's What I'm Making Monday cause while I MADE it... Sorta, some ordering was also involved.

I had seen posts and tweets about this company called Modern Bird Studios. They have a very--well--modern type of art that's beautiful for your home.

When they contacted me and asked if I wanted to try it out I was soooo indecisive on what I wanted. I knew I wanted something personal, but something that would still go in the room. I worried their contrast look wouldn't go with my whimsical theme... Boy was I wrong!

Since I like butterflies I asked if they could take this picture I took of a butterfly during a date with my hubby, and convert it into a piece of art. Originally we tried pink and brown. But once I figured out the colors of the nursery we decided to go with pink, green and white! They were so professional, polite and QUICK! And they sent me examples every step of the way!

They shipped them to me in the best protective shields. Really, there was no way I was gonna get a scratch on those things, it took me about 20 minutes to unwrap it all! But I was SO impressed when I got them out and set them side by side. Look how it turned out!So sturdy, beautiful, unique PLUS I took the photo! I think that adds a nice personal touch, knowing I took that picture and it turned into something so pretty and personal for the room, plus it all matches. But the nice thing is they also have pre-designed series you can see on their site, with beautiful pictures you can choose from with flowers, and other wildlife.

Then, wanting to add my own little flair to it I added these bows and hung them on the wall!It's an illusion though. There's a nice stand on the back of the picture so it's actually hanging by that and a nail, then I added the ribbon and taped the bows to the wall (hehe, sneaky I know). I can't wait to show you the nursery all together once I get it all finished. We're getting there!

You can find out more about Modern Bird Studios by visiting their website, following @Modern_bird on twitter or "Liking" their Modern Bird Studios Facebook Page.

I went a totally different route with some of my photos, since I was going for bright, colorful, and "nurseryish" but look at these other GORGEOUS styles for your home!

Want a beautiful piece of art just for you!? Right now, you can BUY a work of art from Modern Bird studios and get 15% off until May 30th. Use code: "BABYMAKING"

And you can take your chances at WINNING a 12"X12" canvas art from Modern Bird Studios! That's a $215 VALUE!

{{To Enter}}

Visit Modern Bird Studios and in the comments of this post let me know your favorite color combo and what picture you'd get for your home.

{{For Extra Entries}}

Leave an extra comment if you:

Be(come) a GFC follower of my blog
Follow @Modern_bird on Twitter
"Like" Modern Bird Studios on Facebook and leave a comment on their wall telling them you found them from me!
"Like" Baby Makin(g) Machine on Facebook
Be(come) an email subscriber to my blog and confirm your email address
Leave a decorating tip idea in the comments about what I can do with the high ledge in the nursery.
Link up to this weeks What I'm Makin(g) Monday (linky at the bottom of his post)
Leave a comment on my Parenting.com Project Pregnancy Blog

*People who have won a giveaway from Modern Bird Studios before aren't eligible to win again*
*Open to Continental US*

Contest Ends May 23rd at 11:59pm
Random.org will choose the winner. Good luck!

I was given the canvas pictures for free for conducting this review. I was not compensated in any other way for writing the review, opinions expressed are mine alone.

Making No Sew Curtains for Spawnie: What I'm Makin(g) Monday

I know it's SO LAME but I come close to tears when I talk about putting Spawnie's nursery together. Decorating a nursery for a little girl is quite honestly something I've dreamed of doing for SO LONG.I've never had a set sketch or layout decided but I've always known I'd want lots of PINK... And some other colors. Well, finding the swatches of the bedding I love, and adding that with other items in the room to match has been one of the most fun experiences of my life.

I was just telling a friend that I have NEVER decorated an entire room... Never had something on every wall, or enough curtains for all of the windows. I'm just not a very good decorator and my rooms have always been very plain. Even now my living room has basically four things hung up but there's SO MUCH blank space on the walls, I don't have any decorative pillows, I'm missing a curtain panel, and nothing really coordinates.

I've tried to make my living room look trendy but since we've moved so much it's been hard to keep up with.

With my Spawnie's nursery I've tried to turn over a new leaf. I already have something on almost all of the walls and I'm not stopping! It's also the first time I've had curtains AND valances, and guess what?... I MADE THEM MYSELF! Operation Nursery Makeover Part 5 (click that link to read 1-4)!And since my sewing machine is out of commission right now I did it WITHOUT sewing. I used this wonderful stuff right here! Iron-on adhesive. I got the extra-strength Heat n Bond and it works GREAT!

So for you ladies who don't have, or are intimidated by sewing machines this is a fast and cheap way to do it! Honestly the HARDEST part of this whole ordeal was picking fabric and getting it cut the right size. I brought fabric swatches to match with my bedding coming from Artistic Sensations and ended up ordering some of the same fabric online for the valance, but getting a pink at the store to match.I was LITERALLY in the fabric store walking round and round doing math in my head and near tears, ok I lied... IN tears trying to figure out how much I needed and why I kept calculating "6 yards."

Turns out I was converting inches to FEET and THINKING yards and got way thrown off.... Stupid Preggo Brain. My best advice is to ASK FOR HELP from the nice lady cutting your fabric. I told the lady at Hancock Fabrics I was making curtains and she asked me "want them to bunch?" then when I said "yea" she helped me cut the right length! I asked her to cut each one in half too so the sizes were pretty much set for each panel.

She also told me to pre-wash the fabric cause it can (and did) shrink. So I used our washer and dryer for the first time in about a year... I didn't even need my husband's help to do it! And I pre-shrunk the fabric!After that I ironed out all of the fabric and got to sewing... I mean, more ironing.

For three sides I folded over the edges by about 1/2 inch for a hem. Then at the fourth side (which would be placed at the top, that the curtain rod would go in) I folded over a hem, then folded again about an inch so there was room for the rod.I ironed each side down first to make a crease, then cut the iron stitch stuff to the same length of each side, placed it under the folded-over part, and ironed it shut!!

Repeat for each panel, place on the inner curtain rod and TADAA!!The valances were easier cause there was less fabric. I only bought 2 yards and I have lots left over that I'll use for a pillow. Same story, just different lengths... Mine are about 23 inches long.Put those on the outer curtain rod and TADAA!!So, what do you think?! And you are lucky cause I was gonna save these pics for a part of the nursery reveal but what the heck, I'm so excited I wanted to show it off!! The crib wasn't up in this picture though, and the room was a mess so seeing everything together will still be a surprise.

What did you make? Link up and share! I'm loving visiting your sites and getting more fun ideas! I'm visiting them all! Be sure to link back to "What I'm Makin(g) Monday" here to help spread the word!

What I'm Makin Monday: Baby Hair Bows

Woohoo! It's my 2nd "What I'm Makin' Monday" I'm keeping the streak alive so far, and I have another fun giveaway this week too.

Before I was even TRYING to get pregnant I was obsessed with cute little baby hair bows. Specifically the humongous flower ones with the netting headbands. I was obsessed. But I couldn't believe the prices for some of these things... $7, $10 some even $20! There must be a way to make them for less!!

I discovered these Petaloo flowers at Hobby Lobby for $5.99. They were PERFECT for my new craft. The large box contained 20 assorted flowers in varying sizes. I also bought a couple of big tubs of silk flowers from Lakeside Collection for less than $5 a tub for 400 flowers.It was an easy way to mix and match the flowers to make adorable headbands. But recently, my friend and soon-to-be maternity, birth, and full-time personal photographer Tara showed me a trick with flowers from the dollar store... yes the dollartree!! Which is nice because sometimes the other bundles are lacking these larger flowers.I bought a couple boquets there for well... a dollar, and decided to give it a try this week. I had A LOT I mean, like over 100 of bows to finish for people who donated to March of Dimes during my fundraiser and I finally finished them! I still have to take out a loan to be able to mail them all but anyway... Here's how I did it:

Besides the flowers you'll need:

-Some grosgrain ribbon

-A hot glue gun

-Metal brads

-Double prong metal hair clips

-Headbands (optional)

1. Take the petals out of the boxes/tubs/ pull them off the silk flowers from the dollar store. They come completely apart, and you can sort them by color and decide how you want to match up the flowers in layers.

2. Organize the flowers by placing them how you'd like to see them when they're done. I usually made mine with 3-4 layers, obviously with the bigger ones in the back, but sometimes I'd get creative.

3. Stick the brad through to hold the flowers together.

4. Take your ribbon and glue it around the double prong metal hair clip. I burned the edges of the ribbon after I glued it with a lighter so it wouldn't fray.

5. Stick the brad through the middle of the ribbon and between the two metal prongs of the hair clippy, open the brad accross the other side to keep it in place.

TADA!!

If you want you can add the clippy to a crocheted headband. I use to make them but when I realized I had to make like 100 of these things I ordered some on eBay for a great deal! I prefer to pay less than $0.50/ headband, and there's a shop I buy them from for about $0.41 each with free shipping!

You can also make a headband if you have extra pantie hose around, just cut it off at the right length and sew the two ends together. Stick the clippy flower where it's stitched together and TADA!!!

Check out my models:

(Zoila)

(Bubby)

I probably spent about $45 to make about 60 flower headbands (more than that in clippes) and I still have lots of leftover flowers, but that's because I bought some of the more expensive Petaloo flowers at first, and didn't buy as many from the dollar store. That's about $0.75/ headband! Granted, buying the supplies in bulk helps.

Sadly Spawnie won't have all 60 to herself, she actually has about 2, but I'm hoping once these are all mailed off I'll get to making more just for her... I'm thinking, one for every day/outfit and who knows, maybe one day I'll sell these.

I ended up having a few extra flower hair clippies and I'll give two of them to of you!

**To enter**

Be(come) a follower of my blog or link up to my "What I'm Makin(g) Monday" with a post of your own! Just add your link to the Mr. Linky below but make sure your post has a link back to this post. Eventually I'll have a cute button you can share but for now... Just boring old text links.

If you are a follower AND link up, leave two comments, you double your entries! I'm loving visiting your sites and seeing what you're making, whether it's food or a craft, it's inspiring me to try more things!