Make a tie-dye heart dress from a men’s undershirt (video!)

by Natasha on June 20, 2012 in tutorials

Remember those cute little tie-dye heart dresses from last week’s Tulip tie dye post?

I thought the tutorial would be best demonstrated with video. I split it into 3 parts however that way you don’t have to sit through 15 minutes of stuff you don’t need if you’re just looking for one step in particular. You’re busy, I get it.

Part 1 is cutting the dress, Part 2 the dyeing & finally Part 3, the assembly of the dress. This project is easy peasy pumpkin skeezy.

I promise, it’s DEFINITELY a beginner’s sewing project. And who knew tie-dying was so addictive??

Hi, my name’s Natasha & I’m addicted to dyeing everything I can get my hand’s on. That cat’s lucky she’s black.

(I used Tulip easy one step tie dyes, for the last project Tulip sent me the supplies but this time I actually went and bought more myself because I liked them so much. I snagged these Tulip One-Step Tie Dye Kit rainbow shades, LOVE them!)

That’s it! What’d you think of video instead of pictures for directions? I feel like sometimes it’s easier to actually see someone make something live. All though, man, video editing is a pain-in-the-butt! That’s ok, when Martha sees it it’ll be totally worth it.

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Paintbrush Dyed Pillow

Magalog Feature!

by Natasha on June 19, 2012 in Uncategorized

Yay!! Check out my home office & lil miss thing in this month’s Society Social Manifesto Manalog (whew, say that 3 times fast!)

In case you can’t quite see my quote is “When you decorate do whatever it takes to make you look around & smile when you’re in that room. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks, that feeling is what makes it home.”

YAY!! How exciting! Thanks so much to the fabulous Roxy for featuring my room, I’m downright giddy. (:

PS- Magalog: a promotional copy of a magazine, usually in a 12-page catalog format. The name is a portmanteau of “magazine” and “catalog” and was coined by Gary Bencivenga.

If you missed the entire home office makeover & tutorials check them out here!

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Mommy Daughter Target Dresses

by Natasha on June 18, 2012 in Uncategorized

I’ve done something that I normally would not admit but I feel like I should share it with you.

Like it’s my duty.

Perhaps, by my admission, someone’s life could be changed. So I’ll be brave…here it goes…

I shop in the girl’s department. For myself.

Seriously! I’d say a size 16 (XL in girls) is about a women’s small & I’ve found some darn good stuff, much cheaper ps, in the girl’s sections. Especially the girl’s department at Target!

Today I was in search of some new sundresses for Sam & when I was looking at sizes I realized that my big girl could now officially fit into an XS in the girl’s section. Toddler/Baby department goodbye.

Here’s the thing though, as I was looking at these adorable Circo girl’s knit dresses I realized that I kind of wanted one too. And they had an XL. Which meant we could be matching. (GASP!)

I said I’d never do it…but alas, I’ve succumb to the inner maternal need to have a matching mommy/daughter outfit.

Here’s the link to the dresses…match if you dare. (PS-that scarf is totally a girl’s target item too)

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French braids into beachy waves

by Natasha on June 14, 2012 in beauty

Last night I parted my hair slightly on the side while it was damp & then slept in two french braids…This is how it looked this morning after I pulled my bangs back & secured a little pouf with two gold bobby pins. I’ve always loved the messy, beachy, waves look & it’s surprisingly harder to achieve than you’d think! Especially since the ides is to look like you just rolled off a windy beach. I think this works though. Maybe it’s because my hair is shorter than usual.

So I know this week has been all frilly posts, I hope you don’t mind. I know some of you prefer the honest, deep conversations & while those are actually my favorite too I haven’t felt overly compelled to say anything. Sometimes shallow & frilly is a nice vacation. I’m sure I’ll have more to say next week, I can’t go too long without having a verbal eruption. (:Can I just say I love having a kitten. As soon as anyone sits in this house whether it’s at the table or on the toilet this little pixie is on your lap in a split second.

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Paintbrush Pillow

by Natasha on June 14, 2012 in tutorials

When someone mentions ‘tie-dye’ what’s the first thing that comes to mind?

Clothing & accessories right?

That’s what I immediately thought of when I was trying to decide what to do with the awesome box of tie-dye goodness I received from Tulip. Then I thought, hm, what would be an unconventional way of using tie-dye? What about as part of your livingroom decor for summertime?? Yep. LOVE that. Hence after only 5 minutes of dyeing the ‘paintbrush pillow’ was born…

I learned the ‘painting’ technique from this tutorial on the neat website ilovetocreate.com

Crazy, stupid easy my friend. If you can squirt a bottle you can make this.

Tulip 5 color Tie-Dye Kit:includes dyes, bottles, gloves, rubberbands & refill dye powders, Tulip Surface Cover (sold separately)

First, I laid out the plastic dropcloth Tulip also sent me (Hm, wonder if my husband called & requested this) & then evened out my dampened pillowcase on top. (silk throw pillow from Pier 1, on sale now!)

I have to say, Tulip really did a good job with their ready to dye kits. The dye powder comes in a ready to use plastic bottle, (tops are color coordinated, helps to prevent not being able to tell apart navy vs. black…smart.) all you have to do is fill it to the line with water, shake it good & it’s ready to go. For this project I took my black first & squirted a zig-zag pattern from the top left of the pillow & continued over 2/3 of the pillow. Next from the opposite end I squirted teal. The two should overlap in the middle, this is what gives it a bit of a ombre effect.I actually had the foresight (for once) to place my plastic over a piece of foamboard that way when the case was done I just had to fold the plastic over it & I’d have a stable, easy way to carry the project to my basement where it could sit undisturbed for 6-8 hrs.Yes, there is a can of Pringles on my desk. But it’s because we were out of tofu.Fast forward 4 hours (directions say 6-8 but I lack patience) & I unwrapped my beautiful pillowcase present! I rinsed the case with warm water until the water ran clear & then threw it in the wash with some similarly colored towels for a quick wash. After drying on low the pillow was complete & ready for it’s new home on my couch. I was actually torn between whether I liked the dyed side or back side that the dye just seeped onto better. The back almost has an animal print to it! Bonus! Wish I could take credit for planning that one.Le sigh. I love when a project works out.

With the leftover dye I whipped up some super easy sundresses using a heart tie-dye technique & some men’s undershirts. Thanks Daddy. You won’t even miss them.I’m going to have a video tutorial showing how to make them early next week!

Full Disclosure: Tulip is a paid sponsor of Little Pink Monster, however, as you well know, all opinions & reviews are strictly my own!

Tulip Tie Dye Kits are available at Walmart, Walmart Canada, Michaels, JoAnn, A.C. Moore, Hobby Lobby, Hancock Fabrics, Meijer. Tie dye kit contents and colors may vary by store. Find more Tulip projects with their Twitter, Facebook, FB I love Tulip Fashion Art & on Pinterest

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Watermelon & Feta Salad

by Natasha on June 12, 2012 in dinner 101

Mmm…to me, this is summertime on a plate.

Watermelon & Feta Summer Salad (serves 4)

2 lbs of fresh, ripe watermelon chopped into cubes & seeded
2 cucumbers, peeled, seeded & chopped
1 cup feta crumbles
3 small yellow tomatoes, cut into wedges. Red tomatoes are perfectly fine, we had these & I thought the colors would be pretty, that’s the only reason I used yellow (:
garnish: fresh mint &/or basil, chopped
extra virgin olive oil
balsamic glaze

The watermelon is incredibly absorbent & I really like to maintain it’s original scrumptious candy-like flavor so I don’t mix any of the ingredients together until I plate them. In other words, I chop everything up & keep them in piles on my cutting board. I then assemble the salad on each person’s plate when it’s time to eat. Give it a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, balsamic glaze, & coarse salt. Top with chopped basil & mint & eat immediately. Refuse to do the dishes & enforce that all family members address you as “chef”, a la Gordon Ramsey, from now on because this salad was that darn good.Look yummy? Pin this or Facebook Like it below!

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Baby Boy Onesies

by Natasha on June 11, 2012 in tutorials

Hooray! A boy craft on LPM!! Watch out, a pigs flying your way!

I actually really loved having an excuse to make some little man stuff. You definitely have to think outside the box when you don’t have the go to flowers & butterflies though. These are for some friends of ours who just had their first baby, a sweet little boy.

Hope they like them, and geez, I sure hope they didn’t change the name they told us they picked…that would definitely suck.

And if a certain new mommy is reading this, try & act surprised when you get them ok?

All three are ideas I either swiped off of my Pinterest Lil Biscuit board or were inspired from pins I’ve seen. All three were also made with my Silhouette Cameo & heat transfer vinyl. Man I love that machine. Oh, and I’m addicted to American Apparel onesies. Yes, they’re a little pricey but the colors & softness can’t be beat.

Speaking of Pinterest if I’m not following you yet will you leave a comment with your Pinterest name? I’d love to see what ideas you’re pinning!

Happy Monday friend, it’s gonna be a good week…I can feel it in my bones.

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Saturday

by Natasha on June 10, 2012 in Uncategorized

Only 6 days until we can do it all again…love summer weekends.

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PINBUSTERS! Fairy Air

by Natasha on June 8, 2012 in pinbusters, vlog

Pinbusters is a new series where I take crazy popular pins & see if they really are as great as they look…check out the rest of my Pinbusters videos here.

Have you seen this “Fairy Air” pin yet??

With a resident fairy/princess/mermaid expert in the house I thought this would be highly appropriate for our next Pinbusters video.

Of course what’s so enchanting about this pin is that it looks like the sparkling particles are somehow suspended in mid-air. I guess those are supposed to be the little fairies fluttering around in the jar going about their fairy little lives. Or perhaps they’re spazzing out because of the lack of oxygen. Don’t see any holes poked in the top of the jar do ya?

I can’t seem to find the original source of the picture but the instructions on the pin are to simply cut a glowstick open, empty the contents in a jar, add some ‘diamond dust’ (I’m assuming this is a fancy way of saying glitter. If you know different, please, do tell.) & then shake to create the ‘fairy air’.

Could it really be that easy??

I had a hard time believing this one would work, it just didn’t seem to make sense but the picture was so darn enchanting that I was hopeful. Note to self…logic > pixie dust. (what a scrooge, right?)

P actually thought this pin should be ‘confirmed’ since the end result in the closet was kind of cool looking but I’m sticking to my guns that it’s busted because there is nothing floating in the jar & certainly nothing neat to see in the daylight, both of which the picture indicate.

Sorry, rules are rules. Glowing glitter or not.

Geez, PINBUSTERS is making me a hardass.

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PINBUSTERS! DIY Microwaved Popcorn in a Brown Paper Bag

PINBUSTERS! Vodka Soaked Gummie Bears

PINBUSTERS! Create Waves by Flat Ironing Braids

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How to make your life easier

by Natasha on June 6, 2012 in mommy blog

That was the subject line of an email I got. Um, YES PLEASE. What’s the magic formula?? I’m so glad you figured it out! Yay for you! Share! Share!

Turns out it was one of those hokey emails that’s been forwarded 100 different times & you then have to forward it to 100 of your friends otherwise you’ll be perpetually cursed & your children will grow extra appendages in places that should not have appendages. Something like that…

I went ahead and glanced through before hitting delete & you know what, some of these were actually pretty darn clever. So I thought I’d share, and just so you know if you don’t hit the facebook like button at the bottom of the post to share this with your friends your dog will get rabies. From a chicken. I’m just saying…

20 Clever Ideas to Make Life Easier
Hull strawberries easily using a straw.

Rubbing a walnut over scratches in your furniture will disguise dings and scrapes.Remove crayon masterpieces from your TV or computer screen with WD-40.Stop cut apples browning in your child’s lunch box by securing with a rubber band.Organize your linen cupboard – store bed linen sets inside one of their own pillowcasesPlace your iPhone & iPod in a bowl to increase the sound, the concave shape amplifies the music.Re-use a wet-wipes container to store plastic bags.Add this item to your beach bag. Baby powder gets sand off your skin easily. Who knew?!Use wire to make a space to store gift wrap rolls against the ceiling, rather than cluttering up the floor.Find tiny lost items like earrings by putting a stocking over the vacuum hose.Make an instant cupcake carrier by cutting crosses into a box lid.Store shoes inside hotel shower caps to stop dirty soles rubbing on your clothesA muffin pan becomes a craft caddy. Magnets hold the plastic cups down to make them tip-resistant.Bread tags make the perfect cord labels.Bake cupcakes directly in ice-cream cones – so much more fun and easier for kids to eat.Install a tension rod to hang your spray bottles.Turn your muffin pan upside down, bake cookie-dough over the top and voila, you have cookie bowls for fruit or ice-cream.Freeze Aloe Vera in ice-cube trays for soothing sunburn relief.Create a window-box veggie patch using guttering.Use egg cartons to separate and store your Christmas decorations.

If you’ve tried any of these you’ll have to let me know if they work or not…so many of them have ‘Pinbusters‘ written all over them but that’d be one heck of a video…

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