Putting a Spin on Vistaprint

Over the past five years, I've ordered countless items from Vistaprint.  If you've never used this company, I highly encourage you to spend some time browsing their website.

Vistaprint offers business cards, note cards, postcards, t-shirts, pens, even checks at very affordable prices. Often, they have specials which allow you to get 250 business cards for free and just pay shipping.

Allow me to showcase a sampling of the items I've purchased over the years:

My current business cards

Address labels- I use these when I mail handmade items.  I wrap the items in tissue paper and then use this sticky label to seal the paper down.

I ordered these for my daughter's birthday party.  Guests wrote their name on the label and then stuck it on their drink or water bottle.  It helped everyone keep their drinks to themselves.  :)

These long cards were displayed at a pediatrician's office.  They advertise all the things I make specifically for new moms and babies.

I designed this postcard to attach to Car Seat Canopies.  Since most people have never seen one, it's nice to have an explanation when giving it as a gift.

Thank you notes I use sometimes when mailing handmade items.  

Notepads

Just moved cards - this was when we bought our second home just 18 months after our first home.  Another story for another day.  :)

A t-shirt I made for my brother when my son was a newborn.

Magnets I mailed to close family after our son's ultrasound.

Our first "Just Moved" cards

Currently, Vistaprint is offering 250 business cards for FREE, and the address labels are very affordable as well.  

Here's some alternative uses for the business cards if you don't have a business to advertise:

• Cards with your name, phone number and email - great to hand out to new friends instead of writing down your information.  Add a photo of yourself to help people remember how they met you!
• Gift tags - you could design a card with a blank space after "To:" and write a holiday greeting from your family in the "From" space.
• Favorite Bible verse or quote- to add to lunch boxes, gifts, or just give to friends.

And some great ideas for the address labels:

• Print your last name in block letters to label DVDs, books, and other items you may loan to friends.
• Label dishes when taking a meal to a family or potluck.
• Print labels with your kids first name to label toiletries, food items, and books when going to a sleepover or summer camp.

And finally, one of the best ideas for Vistaprint's products came from my sister- she ordered an entire set of matching stationery for a friend's bridal shower.  It was extremely affordable, and the bride-to-be loved having stationery with her new name.  My sister has also ordered blank banners and used them for yard sale signs - another great idea!

Click here to start your order.

A word of caution:  Vistaprint is notorious for sending many emails and trying to upsell customers.  Make sure you only order what you want, and use a secondary email address.  Other than that, I have had no problems with this company and think they offer great products!

Have any of you ordered from Vistaprint?  What's your favorite product?  What other ideas you have to customize these products?

Nursing Cover Tips

I've made countless nursing covers over the last two years, but never posted any tips or even photos of them!  Gasp!

So, it's about time I covered this basic sewing gift idea.

Nursing covers are really, really easy to sew and take less than one hour.  I use one yard of fabric and always have at least 1/4 yard left over.

The finished product measures 23 inches long and 33 inches wide and includes 15 inches of boning.  Boning is the stiff wire-type tool that can be purchased at any fabric store.  It's usually sold near the notions or velcro and is sold by the yard.

D rings are also sold by the notions or snaps in the fabric store.  They are sold in packages of 4, which enough for two nursing covers.  My straps measure 2.5 inches and 25 inches.  I make a triangle out of the end of the long strap so it's easy to thread through the D rings.

I add two pockets to the inside bottom of the nursing cover.  From personal experience, I know these are great for breast pads, pacis, tissues, and many other items.  It's also helpful to have a pocket on each side so that you don't have to reposition baby to reach a pocket.

I make my pockets large and deep so nothing slips out.  :)

For gift-giving, I fold the nursing cover and then loosely roll it.  Don't roll too tightly or your boning will lose shape.

I tie it with a piece of twine and add a sweet little gift topper to make it extra special.

Have you ever made a nursing cover?  Any tips I left out?

Mommas- have you used a nursing cover?  What's your favorite feature?  What would you change about your nursing cover?

It's Here!

Boutique for a Week is here!

If you missed this previous post, be sure to read the details about how you can save money, shop for your kiddos, and browse some handmade goodies all in one location.

On Sunday afternoon, I went to drop off many clothing items and some items for the Betsy Shoppe (Leg Warmers, Reusable Snack Bags, and Pleated Clutches), and was amazed at how organized the drop off process was!  Even though Boutique for a Week is a HUGE sale- covering 10,000 sq feet of space - it's well planned an organized.  The volunteers were so helpful!  

I snagged these photos from the Boutique for a Week Facebook page.

Ruffle Clutch

Once again, I made another Ali Foster pattern with great success.  This is the Ruffle Clutch pattern, which has a magnetic snap and a fold-over flap.  I've raved about these patterns before, and this post is no exception.

I love this grey and yellow combo.  I've never been a huge fashion person, but this is one trend I could adopt.  These colors are so soft and elegant.

I made a few changes to the pattern, though.

• I pleated the ruffles as I went instead of pulling the bobbin threads to make a ruffle.  
• I used heavy interfacing instead of canvas interfacing

Love this?  It's now for sale in my Etsy shop.

Florida Flower Girl Dress

Here in Florida, it's still pretty hot.  So when my friend Megan asked me to make her daughter a flower girl dress for an outdoor wedding, I knew it had to be cool and breezy.  Especially since it would be worn by a two-year-old.  

So I designed this flower girl dress the same way as the popular pillowcase or bandana dresses that are so prevalent on the internet these days.  It's two pieces of fabric with the side seams sewn together until just shy of the arm holes.  A casing is sewn in the top of each piece and ribbon threaded through.  This forms a gathered neck and gathers the top of the dress.  

To make this dress a little more "dressy", I added a sash and a layer or ribbon at the end.  I used satin ribbon, which feels more formal than grosgrain.  Because I couldn't find the right color in the wide width, I made a sash out of the beige fabric and then added the blue satin ribbon on top.  This also gives it stability so the bow isn't floppy.  

I used stitch witchery to add the ribbon detail to the sash and hem of the dress.  I like this much better than stitching the ribbon on, because it looks so much cleaner.  For the hem, I strategically placed the ribbon on top of my hem stitch so it would be hidden.

This dress can be adjusted to fit many size toddlers, and you can't really make it too big as long as the length is correct.  My friend's daughter is a good bit bigger than my daughter (although they were born the same month), but I'm confident it will fit all two-year-old frames.  

Boutique for a Week - now with a Betsy Shoppe!

If you live in Central Florida, you are in luck!  Next week begins Orlando's top children's consignment sale, Boutique for A Week.  This is not your average consignment sale- it's well organized, clean, high-quality and incredibly upscale.  For those reasons, Boutique for a Week was named Orlando's Best Consignment Sale.  If you've never shopped a consignment sale before, I highly encourage you to start with Boutique for a Week.  You will not be disappointed.

The sale is located at Metro Life Church in Casselberry.  Even if that's a bit of a drive for you, it will be worth it.  

Boutique for a Week accepts clothing for all ages- newborn to junior size 16, young men's sizes 28W - 34W.  In addition, they sell children's gear, furniture, toys, bikes, shoes, accessories, books, bedding, carseats, and more.

Want to know the most exciting part?  

This year, they opened a handmade shop called the Betsy Shoppe - where local crafters can sell handmade items.  I was so thrilled to be chosen to sell my snack bags, clutches and leg warmers at this fantastic event.  

I hope you'll drop by and find a few things you can use.  Even if you don't have children, this is a great way to stock up on gifts for others, and now with the Betsy Shoppe, you can possibly purchase gifts for yourself, too!  

I love the Boutique for a Week website design- so trendy and vintage.  And, I love how "Betsy" is a spin off "Etsy".  I'm not sure if that was planned, but it just makes my heart smile

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The public sale hours are:

• Wednesday, September 21st, 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
• Thursday, September 22nd, 10:00 a.m – 8:00 p.m., 50% off* shopping open to Consignors and Volunteers, 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
• Friday, September 23rd, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., 50% off* shopping open to Public.

*50% off applies only to items specified by the consignor!

Expecting mothers can register to shop early.  See the Boutique for a Week website for more information.

Images courtesy of Boutique for a Week.

My First Vlog! How to Make a Purse or Gift Bag from a Dollar Tree Placemat

This is such an exciting day!

Yesterday I created a YouTube channel and filmed a tutorial as I sewed a gift bag for a birthday girl.  I love giving gifts in these simple bags because it doubles as a purse or mini organizing bin.  It's so eco-friendly as well, since you are saving a paper gift bag or gift wrap.

The video is far from perfect, especially since I filmed it myself and had to do many things one-handed.  You'll notice some shaking of the camera, some blurriness, and lots of "um" in my vocabulary!  It can only get better from here, right?  :)

It's also quite a long video for such a simple project, but I included every detail for those of you who enjoy step-by-step instructions.

I'd love to hear your feedback!  Do you prefer video tutorials or photo instructions?  What other tutorials would be helpful in video form?