Take-A-Look Tuesday

Hope everyone had a great Memorial Day!!

Can't wait to see what comes this week - and who will be the most viewed link - maybe you?

- - just a run down- -

• Link to a Specific Post, not your whole blog (to do this, click on the title of the post you want to link and it will open on it's own page, then copy that url)
  
  Please don't link up a post that you've already linked here before - since we've been getting so many linkups (great!!) let's keep it to a maximum of 2 links per person - thanks
  
  
  Grab my button below - you can post it on your post, on your sidebar, on a page of a list of link-ups, wherever.
  
  Try to visit a few other people on the list - it's fun to support and encourage fellow craftiness - and everyone LOVES comments

If you're new to link-ups and have questions let me know and I'll do my best to help

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Growth

Ya know when your kids come from school with plants they've planted, and of course, they never grow.  Ever.  Well, at a cub scout activity, they planted tomato seeds.  Once again, I thought, more dirt cups full of disappointment.  But look what's thriving in my kitchen window:

Who knew!!

And speaking of things growing, look what we got out of our garden last week - wahoo!!  What a way to kick things off - yum!

Bustle Dress - Pattern Remix

Did you gals see me on the pattern remix series over at Me Sew Crazy last week??  I have to admit, I love to follow instructions so I don't have to think on my own - so this opportunity made me think outside my sewing box.  Remix a pattern!?!?  I told myself I could do it....


I really like the dress on Simplicity 3513 - simple and cute. I've it a couple of times for my girls.  Since it's pretty basic I thought it'd be a good remix....

The first thing that came to mind was a bustle - they seem to be all the rage in the craft blog world.  I've seen a lot of them, but I hadn't seen a tutorial, so I just made it up as I went.  With the back pattern piece I cut out a triangle.  (Mental note - next time the triangle needs to go a lot higher, so the bustle hits on the rear, not the back of the knees.)

 With the triangle piece that I cut out, I sewed on pre-ruffled layers of tulle and coordinating fabric - here it is with a few strips on:

 Next on the main back piece I sewed on a strip of pleats for a finished edge.  You could also just turn it under.  Then I sewed the cut-out triangle back into it's spot.

 The back turned out like this, pretty cute:

Another alteration I made was to omit the sleeves.  I just left them off and then turned under and topstitched that raw edge where the sleeves were supposed to go - and also added that flower for interest (it's a gathered flower, rolled up - I show a how-to here):

Here's the front view - - thanks for making me broaden my horizons!!  Oh, but I did stick in my comfort zone of using sheets as fabric - love that :)

Photo Glimpses - Germany

Finally getting around to posting a few pictures from our Germany trip - - it was a whirlwind of fun!

Fried Ice Cream

So when I saw the tutorial from Ain't She Crazy on Tatertots and Jello, I knew we'd be making fried ice cream.  And let me tell you - it was UNBELIEVABLE!! So yummy!  We made it for Cinco De Mayo (yep, I'm just now getting around to posting about it....) but it was so good I think it will turn into a year-round treat.

Follow that link above for the tutorial, but basically you squeeze ice cream into balls and then reharden them in the freezer:

Then you roll those balls in flakes and cinnamon:

Drizzle honey over it - who knew honey and ice cream made such a great combo!

Cover it in spray can whip cream (which we never buy, but it was in the recipe and it sounded fun - the kids loved it! - although I do think my son is putting on a face for the picture)

So if you're looking for a fun treat to make with the kids this summer, try fried ice cream....you can do it!

Teacher Gift

Today's the last day of school (finally!  we had over a week's worth of snow days so it really pushed things back).  As a quick thank-you, I whipped up some glass tile pendants for the kids' teachers.  It's using an image of the school mascot and my tutorial for a glass tile pendant.  I just taped the pendant to a thank-you card and let them dangle on the front.

 And why do boys have such "boy" handwriting?!?!

The Key to Taking Pictures Like a Professional Ebook (and giveaway!)

I think a lot of you know that I take photos on the side - I just love it!  I feel like I'm in this in between level - I'm not a novice, but I'm not a full-blown professional.  I'm always looking to step up my game, so I was super excited about being able to review the book, The Key To Taking Pictures Like a Professional Photographer.

The ebook is very indepth! - - check out all it has to offer:

A few things I loved
--it starts at the basics, but also goes to more advanced settings.
--she mentions what works for her - I love the personal side and knowing how people set things on their own cameras.
--LOTS of photo examples - I benefit from seeing the results of settings - very helpful
--the section on photo shoots (helpful hints for them) - a lot of camera how-tos won't cover that
--it doesn't stop with taking the pictures - there's lots of information about editing as well (and I'm almost convinced to give Lightroom another chance)

Want to get a sneak peek into some pages?  it's your lucky day....

Need a copy of the ebook for yourself??  you can find it here: http://thekeytotakingpictures.com/
And guess what - - you can even score a discount!  $2 off when you use the code "SUGAR" -wahoo!

Katie Evans Photography {Official Website}

The Key to Taking Pictures Like a Professional Photographer ebook {Official Website}

Want to try to win a copy??  Yep, one lucky reader will win a free copy - wahoo!  To enter the giveaway, do either one, or both, of the following:

--Follow the blog, Katie Evans Photography {Blog}
then come back and leave a comment saying you did so

--Like the Katie Evans Photography Facebook Page, then come back and leave a comment saying you did so


Good luck!  Giveaway will end next Friday, June 3rd, around noon.....

I {heart} Michaels

I'm rambling today because I'm busy getting ready for girls camp.... but it's a good rambling, because it's about Michaels....

I wish I had a fabric store in the town I live in, but I don't :(

But I can't complain too much because we do have a Michael's - wahoo!

I love browsing the crafty goodness. Things I have bought:
cookie cutters
fancy paper
ribbon
kids' toys
glue
paint
clay
jewelry stuff
fake flowers
and on and on and on.....

And you know I love a good bargain :)

So of course my favorite thing is to combine the two.  I love using my 40% off coupon to grab supplies.  Often I'll buy one thing with a coupon, and come back the next day so I can buy another thing with a coupon, and so on...

True story, the other day my mom was asking everyone "who has a Michael's coupon?!?" cause she needed to run over there.  And then today I had to run home and print of a coupon before I headed to Michael's.  Don't be like us - - be prepared!  Just have a "just-in-case" coupon ready and waiting with you....

You might have noticed that I'm running Michael's ads - I love that my ads are for things that I love and use.  So make sure you click and grab a coupon or two, and head on down to Micahels and see what you can get for a bargain!

Anyways, let's see what I've got sitting here right now:

Have I mentioned I'm in charge of crafts for our Stake Girls Camp at church?!?  It's next week!  Of course, I'm still gathering supplies....

And then while I'm there, I ran over to the cake-decorating section because I've been wanting to make "flood" iced cookies for a while (like THIS - aren't they cute?!?!) and can't find this stuff at good ole Walmart.

Hope you're having a great Thursday --

Showing Off - and Pinterest

First off, I forgot that Pinterest was invite-only - - - I am LOVING it - if there's anything I want to add to my to-do list, I just pin it, and then I can see it right there on my board.  You can follow other people and see what they're pinning.  Anyways, if you want to join and need an invite, let me know and I'll email one out to you (not sure how many I have, but I'll give them out til they're gone) - - here's my boards: Sugar Bee Crafts Pinterest

Anyways, let's see what you've been up to - -

Speaking of Pinterest, I pinned this dress - love love love the waistband - over at Me Sew Crazy:

This first birthday crown is cute, especially the pompoms on it - - over at Cherished Bliss:

I had to post this shirt from Girl in Air - - I didn't even know the world was supposed to end until like an hour before - shows how much I pay attention:

I love this cake from At Second Street because it incorporates fondant but it's still iced in buttercream so it takes yummy (vanilla-mint - yes please!)

Pink Stitches joined in on the shoe-spraypainting craze - - one day, I will try it!

Chez Mukweto crocheted yoyos - - fascinating:

Everyone's refashioning cardigans - - here's a great one from Flamingo Toes:

A Law Student's Journey made some great rings out of wire - - love them:

Jilleen of All Trades gives some helpful hints about making a maxi dress:

WobiSobi shows a great necklace how-to:

I love recovering chairs - so easy to get a new look.  Living in the Woods used Chevron - looks great!

What Allie's Making Now whipped up the cutest dress with heat transfer - just look at the bodice!

Stepping through Crazy shows how to make candy wrapper beads -- I bet that'd be a fun summer craft:

And a first-time link-up for The Layered House - - check out the Minnie Mouse Party - especially love the banner.

Alright, drumroll - - most viewed link - - already featured on my facebook page - - the ruffle curtains from A Mom Not a Professional - -

Thanks for linking everyone!!  If you were featured feel free to grab the button:
(oh, and if you were featured on FB, you're included - grab away!!)








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