Silhouette Black Friday Deal!

I hope everyone is enjoying Thanksgiving with your loved ones... and what comes next? Yep, Black Friday!

Mr. TRH and I have a few things we are interested in this year for our new house, but I am also excited about Black Friday deals from Silhouette America. What is more exciting to me is that my beloved readers can get a special discount by using a promo code!

Here are the things you can get discounts on with the promo code "TEAROSE".

(1) A Silhouette CAMEO®, Silhouette Studio® Designer Edition Software, a dust cover (the color is decided by Silhouette), a $25 download card, a hook, a scraper, a spatula, and a pick-me-up® tool for $229.99. Retail price for all of this would total $406.93 (over 40% savings!)

(2) A Silhouette Portrait®, Silhouette Studio® Designer Edition Software, a dust cover (the color is decided by Silhouette), a $25 download card, a hook, a scraper, a spatula, and a pick-me-up® tool for $129.99. Retail price for all of this would total $286.93 (over 40% savings!)

(3) A Silhouette CAMEO®, a Silhouette Portrait®, and two $25 download cards for $299.99. That’s right: If you buy a Silhouette CAMEO® at full price, you get two $25 download cards and a Silhouette Portrait® ABSOLUTELY FREE! Retail price for all of this would be $406.93 (over 40% savings!)

(4) 40% off consumable products at silhouetteamerica.com. This excludes machines, subscriptions, downloads and gift cards. Cannot be combined with any other offers. Rain checks are not available.

(5) FREE SHIPPING on orders over $25.

In order for everything to work, you need to go to their website and add the bundles you want to your cart. Upon checkout, there’ll be a section where they ask you to enter the promo code. Then, you will be able to receive the discounts.

My friend and I got together and played with printable foil (you can create custom labels and stickers with your Silhouette and home printer). I am planning to make a bunch of pomegranate tea for my neighbors this year as a Christmas gift, and those labels are very cute and handy.

Don't miss out on this big sale! Head over to Silhouette America and use the promo code TEAROSE to get your special discount. :)

Tutorial ~ Instapocket Skirt

A while ago, I did a post for the fat Quarter series that U Create hosted. I am posting the tutorial here incase you missed it. The fat quarters I used are "Timber and Leaf", designed by Sarah Watts. I totally love the uniqueness of it.

I wanted a whimsical and pretty skirt for my daughter to wear for the summer. When I was trying to come up with a design, I thought it would be awesome to create a skirt with easy steps for pockets, at the same time showcase the design of the fabric. That is how the "Instapocket Skirt" was born.

{You will need}

5 fat quarters
Thread
3/4" elastic
Pom-pom trim (about 2 yards, depending on the size of the skirt you are making)
Buttons for decoration (optional)

{How to}

1. Cut out the parts you need to construct the skirt. My daughter is almost 8 but she is a little small for her age. The great thing about this skirt is that you can always add or subtract 1/2" or 1" to the measurements to create the best fit for your little ones. Ok, You need:

1- 17"x 21 1/2" front panel, 1- 17"x 21 1/2" back panel, 2- 10"x10" top side panels, 2- 10x 13" bottom side panels, 2- 2 1/2"x 18" 1/2" belt.

2. Treat the edge of the bottom edge of the top side panels. I used my serger, but you can use the zigzag stitch on your sewing machine too.

3. To make the pocket entrance, fold the top edge of the bottom side panels twice; (first 1/4", then 1/2"). Press with an iron and sew.

4. Over wrap the bottom of the side top panel, and top of the side bottom panel pieces together. Make the total length 17", so it will match the front and back panels. Pin.

5. Sew a line 1/4" above the seam line of the top side panel to create the bottom of the pocket first. Then, sew a line in the middle to create two separate pockets on each side.

6. Treat the sides of each panel with your preferred method, and then sew them together. Open the seam and press with the iron.

7. Zigzag stitch on top of the seam line for a decorative effect.

8. Sew both ends of the belt together to make a loop. Open the seam, fold and press 1/4" from the top.

9. With the largest stitch setting on your sewing machine, sew 1/8" and 3/4" from the top edge of the skirt. Pull one thread from both to gather the fabric.

10. Pin the belt you have created on step 8 to the skirt, and sew.

11. Press the seam of the belt piece with the iron, then, fold it to the other side. Press with the iron again.

12. Using 1/8" seam, sew the seam of the belt. Put elastic through, and sew the ends together.

13. Fold the bottom seam of the skirt twice (1/4", 1/4") and press with the iron. Pin the pom-poms and sew with using a zigzag stitch.

14. Sew the buttons on the edge of the middle of the pockets on both sides.

15. It is ready to wear!

Rachel loves the skirt (yea!), I asked her what she liked about the skirt; her response? "The fox and the pockets". That's what I wanted to hear. This skirt has 4 pockets. That is enough to carry candies around, or for some precious finds during a family walk.

I hope you enjoyed my post!

Drab to Fab ~ Design Cork Board

When I go to the thrift stores, I usually have a list of things that I am looking for in my mind. Right now I am looking for some furniture: such as unique coffee table or something can work as a coffee table, tall night stand, large bookcase or somethings that can work as such. Growing up, my mom taught me to see an item beyond its use and make it my own by how she decorated the house. So, it doesn't have to be exactly what I am looking for, it just needs that potential.

Another thing I have been looking for was a large picture frame. One day, I found one... pretty much, almost exactly, what I have been imagining I would find.

Here it is;

NO, I wasn't interested in the picture at all. I was only interested in the frame. What is it for you ask? To make this...

I wanted a large design/inspiration board in my sewing area. On my online search, I found one that was close to what I was looking for at Ballard Designs for $150. NO, not me... I don't want to spend that much on a cork board. I will share how much it cost to make my version.

33 1/2" x 42 1/2" frame ----- $12
spray paint ----------------- $ 4
Cork roll ------------------- $33
Linen ----------------------- I had it for years, and don't remember how much it was...
-----------------------------------
Total $49

I made mine for a third of the cost! Actually, there is a tip I can share with you from my "ouch" experience. I wasn't really thinking about the size of the cork when I bought the frame. I was just excited to find it and I had to get it. The thing is though, I thought I could just buy the cork roll at the local craft stores with a 40% off coupon, which only cost me around $7. Nope, the frame I bought was much bigger than the cork rolls you can find at the craft store. I had to do some searching online. Thank goodness I found it on Ebay, it was 30" x 39 1/4" roll and no shipping. So, if you don't want to spend that much, stick to the size of frame that you can buy the cork for locally. I was a bit bummed that it cost more than I was planning for, but still! I love how it turned out, and can't wait to hang it in my sewing room.

I better keep my eyes peeled and head out to the thrift shops soon to find the rest of the furniture I am looking for. :)

Running with Spray Paint and Lampshade Makeover

Since we moved in to our new house, not much sewing has been going on around here... instead a lot more painting. I'm just gonna tell you, I think that spray paint should be counted as one of the greatest inventions for mankind. I. love. it. I will show you what I mean.

I spray painted my 16 year old black floor lamp post to silver, and gave it a new shade...

This Bird decoration I found at a thrift store the other day is NOT AT ALL my style, but with a few coats of spray paint it looks like high end décor. I was thinking about painting it with gold, but I don't really follow trends... I decided to stick to what I love.

There are a few other items that I spray painted but they are not ready to share yet. I promise to do so in the near future. Seriously, spray paint is like my magic wand lately...

Do you remember this picture from several posts ago?

When I finished painting the thrift store find desk and chairs for Rachel's room, I had some leftover light blue paint. It wasn't really enough to save, but I didn't want to throw it away either; so I painted some stuff laying around the house to make them more decorative for her room. One of the items was this old lamp I bought for the nursery when I was pregnant with my oldest son. We got good use out of it, and I was thinking about giving it away when I was unpacking. I am glad I didn't.

With a swipe of a paint a new lamp shade (well... new and old, since I found the shade at a thrift store for a dollar) and flower embellishment with trim, I love it better than the original. It is ready to be used on Rachel's desk space.

Before...

After...

Isn't it so fun? I feel like I should do all paint jobs now before it gets snowy and cold, but I guess that is not going to happen, since I keep finding stuff to paint.

Tutorial~ Simple Green Wreath

I have some skinny windows in my house and I have been wanting to decorate some of them with a simple green wreath. I have been searching for them for a while, and the ones that look full and pretty cost around $80, and I needed two. Hmm... I decided to wait.

I was at Hobby Lobby, and found this 6' garland that was 50% off! I bought two, also two 12" diameter wire wreaths for the base. I was so excited and couldn't wait to get home to create the wreath of my dreams. Let me show you how I did it.

{You will need} to make one

1 - 6'garland
1 - 12" wire wreath
Floral tape, wire

{How to}

1. Tape and secure the end of the garland to the wire wreath. You could use wire if you prefer, but the wire I had was a bit hard to bend so I used tape instead. It stayed well.

2. Keep taping the main stem to the wire wreath every 2" to 3" to secure the garland to the wire wreath until it goes around all the way. You will still have some leftover. Tape the garland to the area you didn't at the beginning. Make sure it looks balanced and even.

3. When you are working on it, there might be some pieces that fall out, you can add them to the wreath to make it fuller.

and... it is done!

The garland was 50% off of $25 which makes it $12.50, plus the wire wreath for $2.50. I created a wreath for $15, and two for $30! Compare to $160, if I bought them online, not too shabby, right?(grin).

I hung them in my front room which is still in the process of decorating, but I feel like I am one step closer to what I want and it feels good. :)