15 Minute Dropcloth Table Runner {Tutorial} + Centerpiece

My kitchen table is the most used table in the house. It gets eaten on, drawn on, colored on, crafted on, etc etc. It was the first table I ever bought and I've had it for 11 1/2 years. So, it's starting to look a little worn. I normally leave it plain or just with a vase of flowers on it because it gets used constantly, but after making my dropcloth curtains for the door behind it, I felt like it looked mighty plain. I started thinking about what to do and decided that since I happened to still have the dropcloth left out from these projects, I'd make a table runner out of it! It literally took about 15 minutes start to finish. It's as simple as sewing a straight line. Everyone can do it! So, if you need to brighten up an old table consider using this durable and washable dropcloth.

 If you want to make a quick and cheap centerpiece for Spring or Easter, this is what I made. My girls love it. It's simple and I think they just like having something Eastery on the table.

I spent $20 on two 4'x15' dropcloths at Big Lots and so far I've made these curtains, this kitchen curtain, this pillow cover, a tote bag {soon to come} and the table runner out of them. I still have quite a bit left to make many more projects! I'd say that's pretty thrifty.

What dropcloth projects do you want to make?

I'm sharing with these parties. Happy Spring!!

Bunny Silhouette Pillow Cover {Tutorial}

This is a two for the price of one kind of tutorial! I love throw pillows because they can change the look of the room in just a matter of minutes and usually for just a few dollars {if you make your own!}. This post will show you how to make a pillow cover with a velcro closure AND how to personalize it. I love the idea of using throw pillows for seasonal decoration, but I really wanted to be able to use the down pillow insert for more than just a few weeks during the year. With the velcro closure on this pillow cover, I can use this pillow insert all year and just change the covers with the season. It's a win-win situation!!
I made this pillow cover out of ... dropcloth! I told you to stay tuned for more dropcloth projects, right?? Here's how...

Now, you can leave it like that or you can personalize it. I chose to do a bunny silhouette in honor of Spring and Easter.

I love how this turned out! And I love even more that I can take the cover off and store it until next year and still use my pillow insert for another DIY pillow in the future! I'll definitely be making more. To see more of my dropcloth projects, click here.

I'm sharing this with some of these parties!
Follow me on Pinterest here where I post all the projects from this blog.

Shabby Apple {Dresses, Swimsuits, Maternity, Baby}

Have you seen the cute and colorful dresses at Shabby Apple yet?? I've been browsing their site and I think you should go and check them out! They have a very cute line out right now called Ferris Wheel.

Rootbeer Float

Ocean Plunge

Pacific Play

These are just a few of the Ferris Wheel line. Right now you can buy one Ferris Wheel item and get a select dress for 50% off! With Easter right around the corner, why not check them out?

Shabby Apple also sells super cute vintage inspired swimsuits, maternity wear, women's dresses and baby clothes! You can click on them in my right sidebar to be quickly directed to each category. I just love the variety and the colorful patterns and styles that Shabby Apple offers. Check back often for sales, etc.

What color are you adding to your wardrobe this Spring? I'm loving orange these days!

Easy Silk Flower Belt {Tutorial}

I wanted to post about this last week, but my girls were on Spring Break so I took a break from the computer. It was a great week, but I'm happy to be back to my normal schedule now. Girls are back to school and Hubs started a new job today. It's going to be a great week!

I showed you all the tutorials for my girls' Easter skirts here, here and here. But for myself, I just bought a plain navy dress from Target and added this simple silk flower belt. You could make all kinds of belts for many different outfits casual or dressy with this tutorial. Enjoy!
First, you'll want to make some silk flowers using this tutorial.

Then, take your favorite 1 inch wide satin ribbon {or whatever material you want to use} and measure & cut it to your desired length.
Finally, tie it around your waist and attach pins close to the 'knot' of your tied belt.

I'm linking to some of these parties!

Ruffle Front Skirt {Tutorial}

This is the last of my 3 elastic waist skirts I've sewn for my girls for Easter. If you haven't noticed, our color scheme this year for Easter is navy and kelly green. I found all three of these fabrics at Wal-Mart, believe it or not. I love these colors and I'm SO thrilled with how these skirts turned out! You can see the elastic waist skirt with sash tutorial here and the tiered petal skirt tutorial here. They will wear these with plain white t-shirts embellished with navy silk flower pins or fabric flowers. I still haven't worked out all the details yet. This skirt was easy to make, but if you find that my tutorial is not easy to follow, please feel free to contact me with questions. Have fun!

I'm linking to some of these parties!

'Silk' Flowers {Tutorial}

I've been busy working on some sewing projects for friends, but I thought I'd take a little break and make some 'silk' flowers to give to the girls' teachers for Easter. We're also going to give them to the lady janitors at the girls' school. My 3rd grader is on cafeteria duty this week which means she has to help clean up the two tables her class uses during lunch. {I think this is a great idea and great way to help the students take pride in their school.} So, since she is working with the janitors this week, I thought it would be nice for her to give them a small gift of appreciation for all the hard work they do. We'll stick a little Easter note in there, as well. Hope they like them!
If you haven't made these before, chances are you've at least seen them around. This is just one in a million tutorials for these, but they are so easy I thought I'd share it with you.

I'm linking up to some of these parties!