$5.00 Infinity Scarf

I've been seeing all these adorable infinity scarves on Pinterest.

This flannel one caught my eye...very simple and cozy.

Plus she uses an old pair of flannel pants, genius!

Photo courtesy of Brittanymakes.com

Scarves are honestly the best. Pair them with jeans, 

flats, stud earrings and a plain tee and you've got a simple,

comfortable outfit. Perfect for any mom on the go!!

Now I'm in love with the pink & cream sweater scarf...

I need to find material like that!

Back to the tutorial....

I, however, didn't have a pair of old flannel pants so I hit up

Joann's and got 1yd of flannel fabric for about $5 (with coupon). 

Here's a short tutorial on how to make your own!

1.) First lay your fabric out flat and fold it over, hot dog style, 

right sides together

2.) Sew along the longest edge. 

3.) There are two sides left unsewn, so right now it's a tube.

Take one edge and bring it through the tube to the other edge, again

right sides together. **Leave a 3 inch gab at the end, so you

can turn your scarf right side out.

4.) Turn scarf right side out through gap.

5.) Slip stitch or machine stitch the gap closed. 

And....you're done!!

So simple, so easy, so cute. 

It even can be worn as a hood on those frigidly cold winter days!

If you love this, but don't want to make it yourself. I'll be selling

some, on request, for $12-$15. Just email me at

giarosedesigns@gmail.com!

Funky Elmo Pj Pants

I need to stop thinking of Christmas presents so early. Because

I just keep finding more ideas! Seriously, Gianna is beyond 

spoiled this year. It's getting a bit ridiculous. 

With that said, Jeff or I have made all her presents!

Stayed tuned, I'll be posting pictures of everything as

they get done!

Back to the Funky Elmo Pj pants!

 

I made Gianna and her dolly some matching pjs. 

For her doll (American Girl Bitty Baby) I used The Blueberry Moon's

Nakey Baby Pant Pattern. She even has a print out pattern,

which makes sewing up a pair of doll pants incredibly easy!

Her blog also features some other doll clothes, which all include

free printable patterns! Definitely jump over there and check it out!

For the top I took a newborn onesie and cut off the bottom,

to make it into a top for the doll. Then I appliqued a square

from the fabric! Easy peasy!!

Now onto Gianna's Funky pj pants! I'll admit, they are a bit...wild.

But no one will see them but us, so who cares?! Plus, G can't 

resist anything with Elmo. 

I found this pattern for free on Pinterest, you can bring it off

and then there's a tutorial on sewing it up. Super easy. 

Thanks FleeceFun for some great free patterns!

Photo from FleeceFun.com

The pink with lace is pretty cute!

Gianna is in size 12-18month (18 months old). I used the 2T

pattern but took off a 1/2 inch on the sides. I shouldn't have done 

that though. Right now they fit perfect, but probably not for long!

I tried them on Gianna, just quick enough to snap a few pics

and make sure they fit. She won't remember on Christmas, right?!

They look a bit crazy and wild! Next time I'll make them with 

a simpler fabric. Otherwise, they are the perfect pj's! 

I may have to make her a pair like the ones pictured about...they are 

pretty dang cute!

The Lovebird Tunic

When I saw the "Lovebird Tunic' that Jess over at

Craftiness is Not Optional made, I knew I had to make one!

Better yet, I knew that I had some fabric in my stash that would work perfect!

Keepsake Calico Fabric-Green Berries
from Joann's

Jess has a tutorial to make your own Lovebird Tunic. I made one 

for G, and although the neckline is a bit messed up, I love it!

She wore it the other day with jeggings and boots...oh my goodness.

She looked freakin adorable! I snuck some pics at the mall of her. 

Yup, I'm that crazy mom.

Checking herself out in the mirror at Gap.

Gotta be just like mom! Putting
on some lip gloss after lunch!

The Abbey Jacket

Let's face it, Gianna has more than enough clothes. But I still really wanted to make this 

adorable "Abbey" jacket by Shwin&Shwin. It wasn't hard to find a customer to make a trial for!

Plus, for $4.95 for an amazing pattern I couldn't pass that up!

The jacket was super simple to make. Of course, I had to make things difficult and not follow instructions 

or pin things wrong.....ugh. I hate bad sewing days! 

Needless to say, that was not at the fault of the pattern or pattern maker! 

I do love this jacket. It's the perfect fall or spring jacket. 

I've seen many fabric variations such as Jess's from Craftiness is not Optional...

Adorable muted colors!

I love the button details...

And that it's made out of fleece which means no serging the edges!

I just love it. Plus the pattern comes in sizes 12m-4T!

I have a feeling Gianna will be wearing quite a few of these jackets to come!

To purchase your own pattern, visit Shwin's Etsy site.

*No, I was not paid or asked to do this review. Just love the pattern and had to share!

Little Girl Tie Top

I'm a lover of Pinterest. I find alot of my newest ideas and projects from there. 

You can follow me too if ya want! Get a sneak peak of my next big project!

Anyhoo..that's where I found this adorable sequin tie top. I fell in love. 

The best part? It was so simple and so cheap. I bought a shirt at a garage

sale for .75 cents. A packet of sequins for $1.50. 

Yes, I hand sewed each of those suckers on. I did, however, do it on our

4-hr drive to see Gianna's grandparents so it was a nice road-trip project. 

You can find directions here, at Little Pink Monster. 

I also made her a simple corduroy skirt with fake embroidery stitched pockets.

Add a pair of hand-me-down tights...total outfit cost about $5! Who hoo! 

Sweet Pocket Pinafore

A few weeks ago I bought a Heidi & Finn pattern, the Sweet Pocket Pinafore. 

I originally bought this pattern to make my friend's daughter a Pebbles costume. Since I had the pattern on hand I decided to make Gianna a top. I wasn't so sure I'd love this style top on G, because it is a little juvenile for my taste. I prefer to dress Gianna like a little lady. However, after I finished it up and put it on G, I fell in love!! It's just so sweet, simple and comfy. Plus this top took a whole 45 minutes to whip up!

I made Gianna a size 2T since this pattern is 'slim fit'. I wish I would have had this pattern when Gianna was a baby because it would have been adorable with a little pair of ruffle bloomers underneath! The 12M size would make a perfect dress for a little baby. Maybe I'll make one for a baby gift....

Below are pictures of the top in action. I just love it!
The back crisscrosses but I forgot to get a pic of the back.
 Oops!

A tree Iowa girl, handing out by a corn field on her Grandpa's farm!

The Girly Cardigan, Take 2

Remember the Girly Cardigan I made with a pattern from Heidi & Finn. This time I did a slight variation; I didn't include the ruffle strip along on the edges, instead I added a crochet detail.

A few months ago I bought a ton of vintage crochet pieces. I wanted to add them on a few pieces in G's fall wardrobe, so I found a crocheted place mat and went to work. First, I cut all the pattern pieces for the pattern, including 2 extra front pieces cut from the crocheted placed mat. Second, I took the exterior fabric and crochet pattern pieces and sewed them together. After that I continued to sew the cardigan as instructed, excluding the ruffle piece.

At first, I wasn't sure what I thought of the cardigan. Once I put it on G, I loved it! She looked so adorable with it in her new Gap jeans. She wore this to church the other weekend and she got quite a few compliments on it!!

Someone figured out her nose has holes
that her fingers fit right in!

A cute little tuxedo-tail style back!

The Girly Cardigan

I purchased the Girly Cardigan from Heidi & Finn on Etsy. I LOVE all the adorable patterns they have. I picked this one because its the perfect accessory for fall/winter. I'm thinking the next one may be gray with a lace overlay on the front. But this one was made to go with the fall into fall skirt.

I reviewed the pattern itself in a preview post. Sewing up the pattern was fairly simple. The only part I had problems with was the ruffling. The instructions say to pin pleats into a strip of fabric to make the ruffle, but I simply did a basting stitch, pulling the threat tight on one end. (See a tutorial here) Once I made the ruffle I pinned it in place and sewed along the edges. However, I did a fleece fabric so I had a hard time keeping all the layers together and making sure I had sewn through them all. I'm sure a more experienced seamstress wouldn't have any trouble at all, but this part caused me some trouble. Plus, my ruffle was super ruffly which I'm sure didn't help. With that said, I'll still be making another one. Maybe without the ruffle? There's alot of variations you can use with this pattern!

Pics at the farm! She wanted to eat the corn
so bad!

The best part was when I put it on G, she loved it! It was so comfy and had plenty of room to grow! I have a feeling this will be a favorite sweater of hers!

Adorable details!

Poor baby girl was recovering from being really sick, she's just not herself yet!

Simple Ruffle Skirt

Like many other crafters I fell in love with ruffle fabric. Whoever came up with this idea is pretty much a genius. I was even more excited when the Hobby Lobby near my house carried it! They only have a simple black ruffle at $12.99/yd but with a 40% off coupon I couldn't resist to buy a yard. I've seen about a million different items being made with the ruffle fabric, my favorites being ruffle leggings and a ruffle skirt. 

My favorite place to buy ruffle fabric is second-hand stores and garage sales! Confused? Let me explain...Designers have also fallen in love with ruffle fabric and there are millions of kids clothes out there made with the ruffle fabric. Take this little Miley Cyrus dress I bought at a garage sale for $3. Sure it's a little juvenile for me but I just knew I could made something adorable out of it for G!

And that's exactly what I did. I simply cut the black top off the elastic, took in the side seam and raised the hem. TADA! A incredibly simple, yet adorable, skirt for my sweet baby G! 

Oh how I love this little skirt. I even found a tutorial for a mama ruffle skirt! Love it!!

And don't worry, for my friends who haven't caved and bought a sewing machine-I'll

be selling custom ruffle skirts! Depending on size; prices will range between $10-15. 

Just email me at giarosedesigns@gmail.com

Urban Unisex Hoodie

I finally made the Urban Unisex Hoodie from Heidi and Finn. The first one I made didn't turn out 

that well. I used a print fleece with a knit lining. It felt incredibly soft and comfy but the thick layers

made the sleeves way too tight. I emailed H&F and they said the Urban Hoodie is a 'slim fit'. 

The instructions also say to use a zig zag stitch, I didn't do this on the second hoodie since I use

a walking foot when sewing with stretch fabrics. Otherwise the pattern sewed up like a 

dream! Very simple and quick. I did do a review when I cut out the pattern here. 

Here's my first try...

Cute but I think I like the hoodie better without a printed fabric. 

And take two:

I love the second one! I used a jersey knit for the outer layer and a cotton, quilting fabric

for the lining (from Hobby Lobby). I did increase the sleeve width by about 1/2inch. They

fit much better now. 

Everything's red!

Suckers, beads, what more can a girl want?!

G's favorite part of the parade...dancers!

Theirs Vs. Mine

My favorite thing to do lately is shop for Gianna...

but instead of buying items I just take pictures and go home and make it!

 I love the sailor/military look that is in this fall. So when I saw this skirt at the Gap,

I fell.in.love. How simple would that be too make?!

Sadly, I couldn't find light pink corduroy so I settled on a darker gray. 

The buttons where in the vintage collection I got from a friend. 

 I decided a sweet necklace tee would be the perfect companion. 

Theirs cost $26.95, mine was less than $5!
I picked up a onesie at a garage sale for $.75; used some fabric paint and a flower embellishment
to top it all off!

I dressed her up in some baby leggs and sparkly shoes for fun. This will definitely be the 

perfect look for fall!

I used Tulip Fabric Paint in metallic silver & 'puff' gold. 

The silver was a pain.in.my.butt. However the gold worked great, I think it helped

it was the 'puff paint' kind. Plus a little flower embellishment attached with fabric glue!

Next pictures will be taken at a park...no one needs to see my embarrassingly 

messy back yard!