Moving to Wordpress

Hi Everyone!

I wanted to drop in and let you know that I've moved to Wordpress.com

Please head on over to www.cinnamonsangria.com to read my blog and future blog posts over there.  I won't be posting in the future on BlogSpot.

Cheers!
Cinnamon Sangria

Happy Halloween!

 

Forget little red riding hood and the big bad wolf.  This is a story of little red riding hood and her friendly fox, Freddy.  Freddy is little red riding hood's right arm, her everything.  The only time Freddy gets to come out of the house is for family pictures, when we travel, or when he is needed as part of a costume. It's a good day for Freddy. 

Anyway Lil Cinnamon is still a tad too young to understand what Halloween is.  What that means for me is that it's the last year that I have any say in her costume before she understands that she gets to be a princess.  I started thinking about her costume in August.  I originally thought we (all of the Cinnamon Sangria family) would be cowboys and cowgirls but then I found the most fabulous little red riding hood costume online and was going to purchase it but then I saw the price tag of $125 and changed my mind.  I figured I'd make it for a fraction of the cost.  I don't have specifics but I'm pretty sure this cost around $30 and took very little time to make.  I don't have a tutorial as there are so many on the web that I figured I didn't need to reinvent the wheel.

 

 

The top part is actually a corset that ties in the back.  Good idea in theory but getting a 2 year old to cooperate with sitting still was like herding kittens. 

Snack time!  All this being cute makes a girl hungry!

And next year when she wants to be a princess she can wear store bought!

Cheers!
Cinnamon Sangria

Travel toothbrush holder

Those of you who know me know that dirt and germs ick me out.  Eww!  I've thrown away all of my old plastic travel toothbrush holders because no matter how much I clean them (either manually or throwing them in the dishwasher) they are still full of creepy crawly germs.  Eww!  I wish I had saved one just to take a picture for this post but I didn't.  If you really want some nightmares go ahead and google dirty travel toothbrush holders.  OMG, I'm so not sleeping tonight.  Or have you ever used plastic sandwich baggies that turn into a soggy mess?  Eww again!
Anyway back to the point of this post is that Mr. Sangria went out of town to Vegas a few weeks ago for a bachelor party.  1.  He's too old for such shenanigans and 2.  I'm jealous.  But I figured that I had been meaning to make these for forever now was as good as time as any.  The great thing about these is that once you return home from your travels you just throw them in the wash and they are as good as new.

 

It's not rocket science.  I just took a purchased washcloth, folded it up and sewed three pockets.  One for toothbrush, one for toothpaste, and last one for floss.  I took some ribbon that I had here at home and sewed it to the side so that it could be tied up. 

And if we are being really honest am I the only one who hides my toothbrush while in hotels?  I know that housekeeping has better things to do than mess with my toothbrush but I'm crazy enough to let my mind go a million places where it shouldn't and think of nasty scenarios.  So while traveling I always pack my toothbrush up and put it away in my suitcase. 
Am I the only one?

Cheers!
Cinnamon Sangria

DIY Chalkboard Ruler Frame

Well it's back to school time.  For us it's "start school time" as this year Lil Cinnamon will be attending preschool for the first time.  I know everyone says "time flies" blah blah blah but it really does. 

 

As I was browsing Pinterest I came across this DIY Chalkboard Ruler Frame from my friend Michelle and I knew I had to do it.  I'm really good at pinning things but not so good at getting around to doing them.  Nothing like a deadline to get me motivated.  Plus it seemed pretty easy and I'm all about easy.  The hardest part for me was finding a ruler that was long enough (usually they cap out at 12") or a yardstick that didn't have advertising on it.  All of the ones at hardware stores have the company's logo on them and that just wouldn't do.  I had to go to 8 stores to find the yardstick.    Started off at Michaels, Home Depot, OSH hardware, Ace hardware, Bed Bath and Beyond, Aaron Brothers, and Staples.  BTW found it at Staples - the very last place.  Everything else was purchased at Michael's or Home Depot.



 

 

 

I'm sure I could have used a piece of fiber board or something else but that would have meant getting it cut correctly and I don't have a saw for that job.  I know Home Depot will do it but that seemed like a headache so I just got this wood board at Michael's.  Not sure what it's for.  It's pretty heavy so I'm not sure Lil Cinnamon is going to be able to hold it herself this year.  I guess we will find out soon.

I painted 3 coats of chalkboard paint.  I measured the yardstick and had Mr. Sangria cut and sand them.  He was a consultant on this project.  :)  Then I just added one coat of wood stain.

Once the chalkboard paint is dry (24 hours) you need to prep the chalkboard by "smearing" chalk all over it and wiping away with a wet cloth.  Not sure why but I do as I'm told.

Then just Gorilla Glue the yardstick to the wood board and you are done!!  Easy peasy!

I've got 2 weeks to work on my handwriting for her picture!

Cheers!

Rosette Lampshade DIY



 

As I've mentioned before Lil Cinnamon's bedroom is a work in progress.  I purchased this lamp from Target months ago and always knew I wanted to add rosettes to it to add some color.  I looked high and low in every store for them and couldn't find them so I decided to make them myself.  It was so easy to do that I thought I would share it with you. 

 

I started off purchasing a yard of broadcloth (which was way too much, you could easily use 1/2 yard).  I cut these into 2 inch squares.  You'll need quite a few so cut away!

 

Take the 2" square and fold it in half.  To save time and energy I do 2 squares at a time.  If you do anymore they don't fold so nicely and become wonky.

 

 Then fold it in half again the other way so in essence you are making a smaller square.

Take that square and cut off the 3 points and round it out to make it look like a tear drop.

When you unfold your square you'll have what looks like a butterfly or flower.

If you doubled up the squares earlier you'll need to seperate them and work on each piece individually from here on out.  Take some thread and sew a small circle in the middle of the flower as seen below.

 

Then pull the thread so that it pulls the fabric up.  You've now completed one petal of your rosette!

 Then do the same thing again.  Pull the others closer to the first petal so it's easier to tighten when you are done.  Each rosette has 6 petals.  When you are finished with each petal sew them together at the bottom tip to keep them together in the long run. Once they are together it's easy to fluff up so don't fret if they look smushed or such while making them.  This is something good to do at night while you watch TV.  :)

 

When you are done with them all just hot glue them to your lampshade and you are done! 

 

And to show you what the top of her chest really looks like in real life when I'm not pretending that our house is clean for this blog.  You'll notice that all items are closely huddled together in the middle.  That's because if Lil Cinnamon can reach it she's pulling it down.  Ugh!

If you have any questions please feel free to let me know!  If you make this I'd love to see pictures!

Cheers!
Cinnamon Sangria

PS!  Linking up with:
I heart naptime Sundae Scoop  http://www.iheartnaptime.net/sundae-scoop-link-party-80/

Flamingo Toes Think Pink Sunday  http://www.flamingotoes.com/2013/05/think-pink-sunday-no-113/

A Bowl Full of Lemons  One Project at a Time  http://www.abowlfulloflemons.net/2013/05/one-project-at-a-time-51413.html

Today's Creative Blog  Get your Craft On  http://todayscreativeblog.net/get-your-craft-on-103/?utm_source=feedly&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:%20todayscreativeblog%20(Todays%20Creative%20Blog)

Skip to My Lous Made by you Monday  http://www.skiptomylou.org/2013/05/20/made-by-you-monday-153/?utm_source=feedly

Craft Exchange

 

At the beginning of the year were a ton of your friends posting about craft exchanges?  Mine were.  The idea was that you would post to your wall saying you would make 5 crafty items (anything that you like) and trade with 5 of your friends anything throughout 2013.  I didn't post it to my wall but agreed to exchange with another friend of mine who had posted on her wall. I decided to make her this bracelet.  It was incredibly easy.  A cuff bracelet, fabric or ribbon, a brooch, and hot glue.  I made this for Susie but may end up keeping it for myself or just making another.   The idea came from Flamingo Toes Crazy Easy Anthro Knockoff Bracelet.  To see her tutorial please visit here.  Her site has a TON of great tutorials.  It's easily one of my favorite blogs.  The bracelet and brooch came from Michaels and I had the fabric sitting around waiting to be used for a project just like this!

 

 

The button I had orginally decided to use wouldn't work so I found this brooch instead and I think I  like it even more.

I can't wait to see what I get in return from Susie!

Cheers!
Cinnamon Sangria

Quiet Book Page

A few other moms and myself decided to make Quiet Books for our children who are all very close in age.  I chose to make a mailbox and letters.  We each decided to make 13 of the same page and then swap so that each child will have a complete book.  For various reasons the project was delayed a bit and to be honest I was dreading making my page when it came time to put it together.  But once I got going it was quite fun.  I haven't gotten any other pages yet but as soon as I do I will share the finished project.  Lil Cinnamon is obsessed with books and I don't really let her play with the interactive ones (pop up ones or paper) at this point as she's still a bit little and doesn't understand to not rip them.  But these are made of felt and are sewn on.  They are pretty much destruction proof!  And if for some reason she does manage to rip something off I can easily sew it back together. 

 



 

 

 

 

Letters from Grandmom and Grandpop waiting to be opened.

 

 

 

As I was making these I couldn't help but think that our children will be a generation who sees the mail be a thing of the past.  With email/Skype/Facebook etc taking over letters are few and far between.  Lil Cinnamon's grandparents send her postcards weekly so as she gets older it will be fun to see her await the mail delivery.  Ahh, to receive something other than bills!

Cheers!
Cinnamon Sangria