Cool Photo Filter

I found this photo filter technique, on Rollip, that allows you to upload a photo and change the look of it.  It's completely free too!  Everyone seems to be doing it these days, including professional photographers. So wanna make your photos look professional or maybe just add some fresh new photos to your blog?  Yes!  Ok, here's what I did...

I took the original photo and uploaded here.  I chose a few different filters and simply clicked the "download here button" and saved them onto the desktop. So easy!  

{Original Photo}

{Filtered Photos}

Pretty neat, huh?  Go have some fun with your own photos.  Trust me, you'll like this one.

P.S.  If you haven't entered the makeup roll giveaway, you still have time to do so here.

Linking up to: Life Made Lovely, Today's Creative Blog, Somewhat Simple, Paisley Passions, 30 Days of Handmade

Makeup Rolls + 1 Giveaway in Amy Butler Fabric

It's summer and in case you've been living under a rock, it's hot!  And I don't know about you, but when it gets really hot and humid, I hate having makeup on.  Unfortunately for me, I wasn't born with the same DNA as Heidi Klum or Gwyneth Paltrow, so I still need a little zjuj for my face.  These little makeup rolls I've been sewing are the perfect cure!   They hold just enough for a little touch up.

I tried to mix up the fabrics with bold patterns and soft patterns.  Some are a little sunny.  Some are a little vanilla.

I tried to pick ribbon that would match each roll.

They're small enough to fit in a clutch, but big enough you won't lose them in your "everything but the kitchen sink" tote.

So I decided to give away one of these little gems in Amy Butler fabric.  

{INSIDE}

There are four little slots measuring about 2 1/4 inches wide.  So each slot can house makeup for your skin, eyes, lips, and cheeks.

{OUTSIDE}

Here's how to enter:

Become a follower first (to follow, click on the blue "join this site" button on the right side of this blog)
Leave a little comment so I know you stopped by.

For extra entries:
Like {Sunny Vanilla} on Facebook
Follow {Sunny Vanilla} on Twitter
***Make sure to let me know in the comment section that you are a new follower on Twitter or FB***

Giveaway will end on Tuesday, August 2nd.

Good Luck and Thank You for stopping by!

Linking up to: 

A Bowl Full of Lemons, Sew Much Ado, Paisley Passions, 504 Main

Party Themes

When I was growing up, parties were held at the local McDonald's...and those were the cool ones.  Things are a little different today and a lot more fun!!!

We're in the midst of planning a 1st birthday for our daughter and there are so many ideas it's hard to just choose one.  Some of my favorite party ideas come from here.  So my inspiration this week is birthday parties!

The movie "Up" Bday

Vintage Patisserie

Backyard Soiree

Cowboy Bday

Angry Birds Bday



Butterfly Bday

So many beautiful ideas and tons of inspiration!  Happy party planning.

Linking up to

Button Art

If you've been reading my past few posts, then you know I love a good bargain!  Who doesn't by the way? You can make a $7 skirt here, upcycle a $2.95 vintage skirt here, or have fun with the kiddos for free here!

Well, my guest bedroom side table was in need of a little bargain TLC.  I've had it since college and well, she's a little tired looking.  She still needs a good paint job, but that's another post.

 Here's what you'll need for your button art (fyi, I spray painted the frame before this picture was taken)

I thrifted this picture frame for $.80 and added a good coat of spray paint.

I first started by arranging the buttons in some sort of pattern.  I liked the grid, but I didn't like the fabric because the pattern was to big for the small frame.  

I switched out the fabric and chose a fabric with a smaller pattern.  I took my fabri-tac and glued the fabric to inside of the frame.

Then I rearranged the buttons into a 3 x 3 grid and glued them into place with the fabri-tac.

I also purchased another frame (yep that says $.40) and two adorable buttons.

I used the frame as my template to line up the buttons one on top of the other.

These had to be sewed into place because the back of the buttons were not flat like above.

I used a pencil and lightly traced the inside of the frame onto the fabric.  This acted as a guide for cutting the fabric to fit nicely in the frame.  Just cut the fabric and place it into the frame.

VOILA!

Here's the end table with that extra bit of TLC.

Let's do the math...I spent $1.20 on the frames, $5.00 on buttons, and the fabric scraps were free.  Not to shabby my friends, not too shabby.

P.S. The other frame is a picture I took in college on a study abroad program to Italy. Check out the town here. 

Linking up to: Thriftaholics Weekly, Craftomaniac, Skip to my Lou, Life Made Lovely, Today's Creative Blog, and A Bowl Full of Lemons, Sew Much Ado, Someday Crafts, Somewhat Simple, Paisley Passions, Homemaker on a Dime

Sunshine

It's all about sunshine this week over at gussy's and there's no lack of it here in the Sunshine State!  Is it weird that we get excited over rain?  When I think back to two of the happiest times in my life, I remember the day we left for our honeymoon and the birth of our baby - both weeks were full of sun.

Off to Grand Cayman and Cozumel.

 "Sting Ray City" off the coast of Grand Cayman.  Those are real sting rays!!!

Chankanaab Park in Cozumel.  We had the place to ourselves because it was just after they started to let cruise ships back in port after the big swine flu outbreak.

Hello beauty!

Leaving the hospital and soooooo ready to go home.

The days following our daughter's birth were some of the hottest days of the month, but also some of the sunniest!

Love!

Linking up at gussy sews

Free Vintage Paper Dolls + Clothing

I'm so excited to share this with you gals!!!  My mom recently sent me a link for free paper dolls by Betsy McCall that you can find here.  The collection is from her first ten years - 1951 to 1961.  I haven't seen these in ages (I remember playing with Barbie paper dolls) so your little ones might think this is pretty neat.  And moms - you'll get a kick out of reading some of the stories that go along with the dolls.


Just print the dolls on heavy stock paper so the doll and clothing has some stiffness to it.  There are several pages to click through with all kinds of different dolls and clothing.  Have fun!

          

Have fun and Enjoy!


 Lollipops, Paisley Passions

Before and After Vintage Skirt

I found this skirt at the thrift store last week and I knew there was hope for it.  All it needed was a little shortening (and some dry cleaning).  The fabric, the stripes, the pleats, and the size were all perfect.  In fact it was so perfect I dropped a whole $2.95 on it.  Uh, huh!  Are you amazed like me?    

Here's the before: 

And just so you know I wasn't fibbing on the price:

I pinned it where I wanted the skirt to hit my leg and accounted for a 1/2" seam.

I took out the scissors and started cutting around the skirt.

Then I folded the skirt up a 1/4" and then another 1/4" and pinned it into place.  This is where the 1/2" seam allowance comes into play.

I just used a straight stich and sewed along the top of the fold.

And here's the after:

I added a little felt flower from here

Not bad for $2.95!!!

Linking up to Thriftaholics Weekly, Craftomaniac, Life Made Lovely, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Black Berry Vine, Sew Much Ado, Paisley Passions, Homemaker on a Dime