2 FFF: Coffee Filter Pumpkins

October is almost upon us (as in tomorrow), so Halloween decorations will be coming out in full force.  And I think these coffee filter pumpkins from Over the Big Moon are the perfect addition to any fall mantle!  I just love using coffee filters in crafts.  Over the Big Moon has a full tutorial on how to make these, so make sure to stop by.

1 What are little boys made of? #79

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Party Guidelines: 1) please link to your blog post (not your blog main page) so people can go directly to your project and 2) Enter your blog name and in paranthesis add the name of your project so we can clearly see what it is 3) Don't forget, these should be BOY RELATED (Big Boy projects are accepted too)! AND PLEASE grab my button!

7 Sugar & Spice #78

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The party guidelines are: 1) please link to your blog post (not your blog main page) so people can go directly to your project 2) Don't forget, these should be GIRL RELATED (can be for us grown up girls too)! 3) AND PLEASE grab my button and add it to your post so that other crafty ladies can come join the fun.

0 Go Go Power Power Rangers!

{Check out those muscles!} Since I shared the two costumes I made for my daughters (Mermaid Tutorial and Little Red Riding Hood) I thought it was only fair that I include my son too.  His was very simple - all he needed was a mask for his Red Ranger costume.  This was one of two Power Ranger costumes he was given and as soon as he saw it he said he was wearing it for Halloween.  Who am I to argue?  The only downside, it didn't come with a mask.  As we were sitting watching TV the other day he asked if I could make him a mask, so me being a good mom said yes.

0 HOW TO: View Post Images Slideshow

As I was viewing my Mermaid tutorial post I accidentally clicked on one of the images and was amazed to see this fun slideshow pop up!

It's funny because I noticed this on several other blogs this past weekend and was wondering what they used to get it... little did I know that it is part of Blogger's newest upgrades.  For tutorials it is pretty cool because you can click on an image and then scroll through the shots and follow the images... it's also great to get a better look at the images. Is this feature not showing on your blog?  Go to your Dashboard and if you aren't already using the New Interface, click the "Try the updated Blogger interface" link at the top of your dashboard.  Once in the new interface, click SETTINGS, POSTS AND COMMENTS.  Locate "Showcase images in Lightbox" and make sure to select yes and then save.  That's it!   Just one note: This will only work if the image hasn't been hyperlinked (had a link attached to it).  So say you click my  Sugar and Spice button - that won't pull up a slideshow, it will bring you to my homepage because that's what I told it to do.
I like this feature, what do you think?

6 Little Red Riding Hood, You Sure Are Lookin' Good...

You're everything a big bad Wolf could want.  Hoooowwwwwlllll!

My little sweetie-pie is going to be the cutest Little Red Riding Hood this Halloween.  I've been telling her the story all week to get her pumped.  If you ask her who wants to eat Little Red she immediately points to her brother because he has been playing the part of Big Bad Wolf.  

0 FFF: Fall Wreath with Finding My Way in Texas

Isn't this wreath pretty?  Don't you think it would look great on your front door?  Me too!  I love it!  And thankfully Finding My Way In Texas shares a tutorial on how to make it.  And the best part?  You don't need a wreath form, all you need is a piece of cardboard!  Head on over and find out how to make your own burlap wreath.

0 What are little boys made of? #78

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Party Guidelines: 1) please link to your blog post (not your blog main page) so people can go directly to your project and 2) Enter your blog name and in paranthesis add the name of your project so we can clearly see what it is 3) Don't forget, these should be BOY RELATED (Big Boy projects are accepted too)! AND PLEASE grab my button!

1 Sugar & Spice #77

Today you can find me at:

 Grab the button!

Copy and paste into your blog.

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The party guidelines are: 1) please link to your blog post (not your blog main page) so people can go directly to your project 2) Don't forget, these should be GIRL RELATED (can be for us grown up girls too)! 3) AND PLEASE grab my button and add it to your post so that other crafty ladies can come join the fun.

3 Creativity Week - Call for Guest Bloggers & Giveaways

I think it is time for another Creativity Week, don't you?  It's been over a year since I hosted the 2nd Creativity Week and I think we all have lots of fun seeing all of the great projects and tutorials.   So here is the OFFICIAL CALL FOR CRAFTS for the Fall 2011 Creativity Week, which will be held November 7 - 11.  Do you have a tutorial you want to share with the readers of seven thirty three?

Send the following info ASAP to 733blog@gmail.com:
1) Your name
2) Blog name and address
3) Info on your craft/tutorial
4) a link to your idea or if it has not been published yet, a picture of it (if it is not finished, then just a description is fine).


 UPDATE: WE ARE FULL!  THANK YOU EVERYONE THAT SUBMITTED A TUTORIAL.  I WISH I COULD INCLUDE YOU ALL!  I STILL HAVE A FEW OPENINGS LEFT FOR GIVEAWAYS IF YOU ARE INTERESTED (SEE BELOW).


SHOP/PRODUCT PROMOTION OPPORTUNITY
I would also like to offer a giveaway each day, so if you have a shop or product you think my readers would enjoy, please contact me.  Your button will be included in my sidebar for the duration of Creativity Week as well as a post featuring your company/shop and your giveaway.  NOTE: As a sponsor you do NOT need to provide a tutorial!


During our last Creativity Week we saw over 6,500 visitors during the week and many of the tutorials shared were featured on sites such as One Pretty Thing, Craft Gossip, UCreate and Someday Crafts which offered continued exposure.  seven thirty three has continued to grow and I know that we can expect an even bigger turn out for this summers event!  I can't wait to see what you ladies have in store for me this time!

 

2 Mermaid Costume: Water Skirt Tutorial

Yesterday I shared my Mermaid Tail tutorial, and today I am going to share with you how to make the Water Skirt (a conceptual visual of the mermaid tale against water).

10 DIY Mermaid Costume

{See more images here}

My daughter started brainstorming Halloween costumes two weeks ago and told me she wanted to be a Mermaid.  I was going to nix it because hey, it snows most Halloweens here in Vermont!  But then I got to thinking that I could probably make a pretty easy Mermaid costume.   In case you didn't know, my motto is cheap and easy... guess I'm sort of a crafting bimbo!  Anyway, not only did I think I could create a warm one, but one that didn't restrict movement.After a little brainstorming and a quick mock-up of the tail I was ready to get to work.    You will need the following to make your own tail: Emerald Lame (I purchased 1.5 yards for my daughter who is a size 10/12 and I should have only purchased 1 yard) 1 Yard Batting (or however much of the Emerald Lame you get)

Fold the fabric so that it is right side touching right side lengthwise.  First I grabbed a pair of my daughters pants and laid them down on the piece of Emerald Lame (which was still folded in half length wise).  I used this as my guide for the height of the tail.  I added 2 inches to the height.

Next I drew out the shape of my tail.  I then decided I wanted to be as symmetrical as possible so folded the fabric in half again and cut it along one side of my guides.

Unfold and you have your tail shape.  Lay your batting over the top and cut out a rectangle making sure to cover all of the tail.  So now you have a sandwich of batting and two pieces of right sides touching Emerald Lame.

You probably know me by now, and if you do, you know I didn't pin this, but feel free to do so. Sew all the way around, leaving a 3" gap on the side so that you can flip it right side out.  I started at the tail because it seemed the most important and hardest area with the curves and such.  Trim off the excess batting (thank you for ignoring that I didn't cut my rectangle of batting big enough so the top of my tail went off it... it didn't hurt the integrity of the design, just a sign of caution for you! HA!).

Turn your tail right side out, and check the height on your child.  If it is laying where you want to (just below the belly button and not too long that it will get tripped on) then hand sew up your 3" hole.

UPDATE: I don't know why I didn't think of this at the time - but I would just use elastic and skip the straps that tie in the back to hold up the tail.  Measure your child to determine the amount of elastic needed and then sew onto waist of tail.   I added straps to the tail by cutting 2" x 6" strips, folding them in half length wise and sewing shut the long way.  

I then spent more time trying to flip them right-side out than I did on anything else on this project.  You could always use some green ribbon, or I even considered cutting the straps and buckles off my no longer used dinner booster seat, but since they were blue I opted against it...  but now I'm thinking since I covered the back with the cloak, it would have been worth it!

 Fold the fabric into the hole on either end of your strap and sew shut.  

Now sew your straps directly onto the top corners of your tail. That's it, your tail is done! Ummm... maybe. Once I got the whole ensemble on my daughter and she ooo'ed and ahhh'ed in the mirror for 10 minutes she said she loved it but... Ariel has that cool part where her upper body meets her fin and sort of notches away from her belly button... and I said "UGH!  You're right.  I wish I had remembered that instead of going straight across at the waist.  I can't cut out the notch now."  She was sort of like "Darn, so there isn't anyway you can add fabric to make that work?" and I was like "No, not now and I can't cut the notch because this fabric frays terribly."  She still loved it and forgave me my error.... But I couldn't stop thinking about it!  SOOOO, I went back down to my sewing desk and pulled out the fabric and cut out and sewed the curve of this shape:

 {the vertical seam you see a few inches to the right of the fold is because I cut the piece too wide.  I sewed the vertical seam and cut off the fabric to the left.  The point should end in the center of the tail, and the edge needs to hit the edge of the tail.  You will need two of these)

Flip the fin piece right side out.  

I was a bit apprehensive about actually attaching it because what if it doesn't work out the way I had planned... but this is me and I couldn't not do it so away I went (and did you see I actually used TWO pins to help me with this process!).  I measured it so it ended in the center of the upper tail and then starting from the side, sewed a straight line attaching it along the top.  I did the same to the other side and it worked EXACTLY as I hoped.  By this time my daughter was in bed, but I was so exacted I ran up to show her anyway.  She was like "that is SO awesome" and had to get up to give it a try.  So thank you to my daughter, Cassidy, for having this bright idea!   The Hooded Water Cloak was made generally following this tutorial.  I used fleece and it was super easy, no hemming needed!

Come back tomorrow and I will show you how to make the Tulle Water Skirt!

 {Posing with Jafar - a little disheveled after riding numerous rides and a fun night of trick-or-treating at Walt Disney World!} October 2012 Update: My daughter wore this costume sans cape to Disney World and received SOOOO many compliments on it.  People kept asking where we got it and she took great pride in telling them I made it. 

4 Are Mermaids Real?

Come back tomorrow and you can learn how to make your very own Mermaid Halloween Costume!

10 Custom Guitar Pick Necklace Tutorial

As you all know I am a busy bee planning my daughters 11th Rock Star Glam Birthday Party.  Her party isn't until October 22, but I will be gone camping Sept 30 - 2, then I have a shopping weekend with the girls Oct 9 - 11, and I leave to visit a very good friend in NC on Oct 13!  The very next weekend is the party, so I have lots to do in the next two weeks before everything gets crazy! This is what I am going to show you how to make today:

1 FFF: Upcycled T-Shirt Headbands with Lunch Hour Crafts

I was so excited when Natasha from Lunch Hour Crafts sent me links to her two upcycled t-shirt headband tutorials.  Want to know why?  Because they are fricken' adorable and I want to make each of them! I mean, check this out:

2 What are little boys made of? #77

Grab the button!

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Party Guidelines: 1) please link to your blog post (not your blog main page) so people can go directly to your project and 2) Enter your blog name and in paranthesis add the name of your project so we can clearly see what it is 3) Don't forget, these should be BOY RELATED (Big Boy projects are accepted too)! AND PLEASE grab my button!

2 Sugar & Spice #76

 Grab the button!

Copy and paste into your blog.

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The party guidelines are: 1) please link to your blog post (not your blog main page) so people can go directly to your project 2) Don't forget, these should be GIRL RELATED (can be for us grown up girls too)! 3) AND PLEASE grab my button and add it to your post so that other crafty ladies can come join the fun.

2 Gettin' Chatty!

Thanks for all those that participated in the "Chatty Lunches" Love Notes giveaway.  I especially loved the people that stopped by and said they wanted to use these for their husbands.  I think that is so darn sweet!  The winner of the "Chatty Lunches" Love Notes Set is: 

 

Of course everyone is really a winner since you can download your own set RIGHT HERE!

13 "Chatty Lunches" Love Notes Freebie & Giveaway

Today I am guest posting over at brown paper packages for her back 2 basics event.

I am sharing my "Chatty Lunches" Love Notes.  I recommend heading over to check it out because not only do I offer these as a free printable, but I am also offering to giveaway a set (32 cards) to one of my readers {for those that don't have a color printer or who are too lazy busy to do it themselves - ha ha}. The set will come pre-cut {see, no work for you!  Just write a note and place in your child's lunchbox!}.

8 HOW TO: Encourage Commenting

I like Snap on Facebook and just had to click over to their post when I saw this in my feed:"Five Ways to Encourage Commenting" The SNAP girls have some really great tips and I love that they shared a link to a tutorial on how to add CommentLuv to a Blogger blog.  I'm not ready to take that plunge because I like getting my comments emailed to me and I haven't researched it enough to see if that would still be plausible... so if you do give this a try, let me know what you think!
Now comment away on how much you love that I shared these awesome links with you!

2 Rock Star Glam Tween Birthday Party

My daughter gave me carte blanche on her party theme this year, so my cousin and I held a Facebook brainstorming session and ended with: ROCK STAR GLAM!   I think it is going to be a ton of fun!  We are going to have a make-up table, and rock star fashion clothes rack, a Tween Magazine Cover Photo Shoot, an ice cream buffet,  cake pops.  See?  Lots of fun!

1 Winner, winner chicken dinner!

UPDATE: So it turns out that Maureen already won something from Uprinting.com this week and is ineligible to win again, so it stinks for Maureen, but is good if you weren't her!  I drew another winner and got #15: JAMIE @ BACKLESS SHIRT.  Check your email Jamie! :)

 Just a couple of winners to announce! The lucky woman that is going to receive 250 business cards from UPrinting.com is:

 

0 FFF: Faux-Feather Hair Extensions

After my daughter had her feather hair extensions put in last month, I researched buying them myself (because they are SO easy to put in), and came to realize just how cruel the process of getting the feathers really was.  And the worst part, once the roosters are killed for their feathers, they are just disposed off.  I eat meat, but I still care about the treatment of animals and I do find it cruel and wasteful to kill them just for feathers.  But then I came across The Button Smith, a great little Etsy shop offering cruelty free synthetic hair extensions.  These are NOT feathers, but they give the same look when in place, and are even available in a grizzly pattern.

0 What are little boys made of? #76

Don't miss out on this week's great giveaways - they both end tomorrow!
8x10 canvas from Easy Canvas Prints
250 Business Cards from UPrinting.com

Grab the button!

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Party Guidelines: 1) please link to your blog post (not your blog main page) so people can go directly to your project and 2) Enter your blog name and in paranthesis add the name of your project so we can clearly see what it is 3) Don't forget, these should be BOY RELATED (Big Boy projects are accepted too)! AND PLEASE grab my button!