Helping hands

The kids have been helping me push through a couple of projects over the last couple of days. I've sent out text messages to some of my friends, their advice has been invaluable!

I put the Easter wreath on my mantle this morning. Thanks to the inspiration found here, I finally have something cute for Easter. I'm a little disappointed that I haven't found the right ribbon to make a cute bow like her's... When I do find it, my total project cost will go up by $1.00, I'm using nothing but Dollar Tree products. My adorable purple glitter bunny likes to hide, he's small, so look closely and you'll see him! Here's the break down for cost (which I could have made cheaper by using cardboard like Debbie did.)

Grapevine Wreath: $1.00
Eggs: $3.00
Plastic Grass: $1.00
Bunny: $.50
Total: $5.50

I've also managed to knock out the girls hair clips. Amie helped me pick out all of the flowers, buttons and rhinestones. She's got a pretty good eye for detail as long as it's all in shades of PINK. (anyone other than me notice the overwhelming amount of pink?) Even though pink is my least favorite color (you'd never know that looking at my toddler) I still really like how their hair clip holder turned out. After I finished painting it I added a little texture with the 2 buttons (in the birds hair), the strip of yellow flocked ribbon and the small bow (over the S in Sisters.) For this one, the cost is not as easy to calculate since most of this stuff came from my craft stash. (That's my pile of supplies. I have a project planned for everything, I just don't know what it is quite yet.) My best guess is:


Wood plaque: $1.50 (it came from goodwill)
Paints/Mod Podge: $1.00 at most
Ribbons: $1.00 (all of my spools at $1.00 or less and I didn't use a full spool.)
Total: $3.50

Here's a look at my favorite of the flower clips, they are super easy if you follow the tutorial found on Skip To My Lou. After making these darling flowers I can see why everyone wants them in their child's hair. What I don't understand is how crafters have the nerve to sell them for such high prices. If I made a set of 6 flower hair clips it wouldn't cost nearly as much as 1 sells for (I've found them on Etsy ranging from $4 all the way past $40, really?!?). Granted, I DO NOT buy the premiums buds from the silk florist store. (Why would any parent put a premium flower in their kids hair to begin with. If the parent is lucky it might stay in their hair long enough to snap a picture. Most kids end up pulling them out and loosing them, squashing the pretty petals or chewing on them...) I use the prettiest buds from my favorite cheapy store, the Dollar Tree! My cost ends up being:

Flowers: $2.00
Clips: $3.00
Ribbons/buttons and rhinestones: $1.00
Total: $1.00 per flower clip ($6.00 for the entire lot)
If I made the little interchangeable headband to go with it... I'd increase my cost by $.50 per clip.

Finally, because I slacked off a last week... Here are the belly pictures. We are somewhere in week 18 now.

XOXO, A. Scott